Delhi High Court. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Delhi High Court has directed the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to review the Delhi Jal Board’s proposal to set up 13 new decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs) to prevent untreated sewage from flowing into the Yamuna.
The court’s August 24 direction came after local commissioners appointed by the court to monitor the condition of the Yamuna highlighted that only a portion of Delhi’s sewage is currently being treated, while untreated sewage continues to enter the river.
A Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora noted that several issues concerning sewage treatment plants (STPs) need to be addressed, including the upgradation and augmentation of existing plants, creation of new STPs and ensuring that treated water does not subsequently mix with untreated sewage before reaching the river.
The court was informed that detailed project reports for the proposed 13 DSTPs have been prepared and sent to the Namami Gange Project Authority. The Bench directed the Director General of the NMCG to examine the proposal.
It was informed by the local commissioners and DJB’s counsel that 28 operational STPs are currently meeting the National Green Tribunal’s prescribed 10/10 standards. Another nine operational STPs are functioning at the 30/50 standard and are required to be upgraded to meet the 10/10 standard, with completion deadlines ranging from December 2027 to May 2028.
The court was also informed that a gap in sewage treatment capacity, estimated at around 132 MGD, remains to be addressed and the DJB is currently undertaking a gap analysis.
According to the Delhi Jal Board, the city currently has operational STPs with a combined capacity of 814.26 MGD as of August 24, 2026. The DJB has set a target of increasing the treatment capacity to 1,041.10 MGD by December 31, 2027.
In the outer areas of Delhi, the DJB has awarded work for 28 DSTPs, while the work for one more is at the tendering stage. Construction of these plants is targeted for completion by January 2028.
The court, meanwhile, flagged another key concern raised by the local commissioners that “the treated water is being again discharged and mixed with the untreated water”.
“Therefore, the drains would have to be laid in respect of the new STPs. Accordingly, this aspect shall be given top priority for existing STPs and the newly proposed DSTPs when the tenders are floated and the work shall be supervised by DJB,” the court ordered.
The directions were issued in proceedings concerning measures for preventing pollution of the Yamuna.
Published – August 27, 2026 06:39 am IST
