The Indian Express 16.04.2013
DJB plans 9,500-km sewage network in Outer Delhi
For the Poor Stagnant waste water causes major health issues in these areas, Jal Board says project to cost Rs 25,000 crore.
As many as 9,500 km of pipelines will be needed to connect unauthorised colonies in Outer Delhi to the city's sewage network, according to Delhi Jal Board. DJB officials estimated that it could take many years and around Rs 25,000 crore to bring proper sewage facilities to these colonies, home to around 45 per cent of Delhi's population.
A draft sewer master plan, expected to be released in a few months, maps where people live in the Capital and what sort of factors need to be considered in order to build a sewage network in areas that don't have one.
"We've done a full survey of all areas without sewage system in Delhi. We realise that we need to create a sewage system for everyone and our plan is to build sewers in all unauthorised colonies," DJB CEO Debashree Mukherjee said.
DJB officials said they have already built systems in 92 of an estimated 2,000 unauthorised colonies included in the plan.
In areas that do not have sewer pipelines, waste water causes many health and sanitation problems. It either stagnates or runs through storm drains.
These drains are supposed to replenish the groundwater levels or water sources like the Yamuna, but waste water ensures that they spread contaminates instead.
The DJB's sewer master plan focuses on the technicalities that determine the feasibility of getting pipes to these areas, such as the topography, climatology, geology and other factors.
However, the feasibility itself is done internally and so is the prioritisation.
Mukherjee said water officials consider a couple of things when prioritising colonies — whether they have running water and whether they are close to an outfall or a vein of the existing sewer system, which can sufficiently transport the waste to a treatment plant.
The master plan is supposed to support sewer work till 2031, also taking into consideration growing population in specific regions.
Nitya Jacob, programme director of water at Centre for Science and Environment, lauded the DJB's plan but said he was sceptical. "Colonies grow faster than the infrastructure, but it's good in-principle and at least will ensure that everybody is on the map," Jacob said. "It is a lot of money, so where are we going to get it from?"
Mukherjee, however, said with government grants available to the DJB, the agency would not fall short of resources.
Water Woes
9,500 km sewage pipeline network
Rs 25,000 crore project cost
92 of 2,000 illegal colonies have sewage system
45 per cent of Delhi's population lives in illegal colonies
In areas that do not have sewer pipelines, waste water causes many health and sanitation problems. It either stagnates or runs through storm drains. These drains are meant to replenish the groundwater levels or water sources like the Yamuna, but waste water spreads contaminates instead. The proposed sewage network will improve sanitation and keep health hazards at bay
A draft sewer master plan, expected to be released in a few months, maps where people live in the Capital and what sort of factors need to be considered in order to build a sewage network in areas that don't have one
Water officials consider a couple of things when prioritising colonies — whether they have running water and whether they are close to an outfall or a vein of the existing sewer system, which can sufficiently transport the waste to a treatment plant
The DJB's sewer master plan focuses on the technicalities that determine the feasibility of getting pipes to these areas, such as the topography, climatology, geology and other factors.
