(a) whether Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in various States are functioning properly
in order to control the discharge of sewage into the rivers Yamuna;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) the funds spent on STPs in addition to Yamuna Action Plan for the Yamuna river
during the last three years; and
(d) the steps being taken to upgrade the STP capacity to improve the river water quality?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) & (b) In the catchment of river Yamuna, so far, 60 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)
have been installed through various schemes, with a treatment capacity of 3024 million liters
per day (mld). The installed capacity of sewage treatment in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh
is 2330 mld, 333 mld and 361 mld respectively. Out of these, 5 STPs in Delhi, 14 in Haryana
and 10 in Uttar Pradesh do not meet the Biochemical Oxygen Demand/Chemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD/COD) norms laid down in the General Standards for discharge of environmental pollutants
under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
(c) Conservation of rivers is an ongoing and collective effort of Central and State
Governments. Besides the state government’s own budgetary allocation, creation of sewerage
infrastructure including the setting up of STPs, has also been achieved under the Government
of India’s schemes like Yamuna Action Plan, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns. This Ministry is
implementing Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) since 1993 in a phased manner, on a cost sharing basis
between Central Government and the respective State Governments. Under YAP-I and II, with
assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an expenditure of Rs. 494.73
crore (including state share) has been incurred during the last three years on works relating
to sewerage/interception & diversion of drains, low cost sanitation/community toilet complexes,
electric/improved wood crematoria and construction of STPs. The expenditure incurred on setting
up of STPs during the last three years is Rs. 216.09 crore.
(d) The steps taken to improve the water quality of river Yamuna include initiating the
YAP Phase - III project for Delhi, at an estimated cost of Rs 1656 crore with assistance from
JICA. The YAP-III involves rehabilitation of damaged trunk sewers, modernization of STPs to
equip them with tertiary level treatment facilities and construction of new ones in the
identified areas of Delhi.