Sewage Treatment Plants Not Functioning Well, Releasing Raw Sewage In Yamuna: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has recently observed its prima facie view that the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in the national capital are not functioning as per required norms and are releasing raw sewage in Yamuna river.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora suggested that tamper proof meters must be installed to record operational timings of STPs as well as the electricity consumption.

The Court further said that the data must be loaded real time on website of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Delhi Government Chief Secretary's office.

“Further, all STP must install sensors at the point of discharge i.e. the point where the STP drain releases the treated water into the Yamua river to record quality and quantity of treated water including details of (Biological O2 Demand) BOD, (Chemical O2 Demand) COD, (Total Suspended Solid) TSS, Fecal Coliform and Dissolved Phasphate,” the Court said.

It directed that the data must be transparently and prominently displayed on boards and a live feed of the same must go to servers of CPCB, DJB and Chief Secretary's office.

The court was dealing with a suo motu PIL initiated by it in 2022 over lack of rainwater harvesting efforts taken by the authorities and huge traffic snarls, especially during monsoon.

In a recent order passed on November 12, the Bench noted heard a presentation given by Special Secretary, IDMC outlining the steps taken and furnished the timelines for complying with the direction passed by the Court in April in a time bound manner.

Notably, in a detailed passed on April 08, the Court had issued slew of directions on the management of drainage system, rejuvenation of water bodies, Yamuna river including its flood plains and rain water harvesting, while fixing timelines for the same.

The Court expressed its non satisfaction on the desilting of the 22 main drains, sewers and storm water drains carried out by the statutory agencies in compliance its order.

“The endeavour of the Court while passing the said order was to ensure readiness of the sewers and storm water drains to carry the rain water during the 2024 monsoon season to the River Yamuna. The current photographs of Taimur Nagar main drain shown during the hearing further contradicts the report of desilting presented before this Court today,” the Court said.

It added that polluting industries continue to discharge unchecked waste into the drains, which finds it way to the Yamuna river and that the action taken, mentioned in the presentation, against unauthorized polluting industries in residential areas required intensification.

The bench was also shown a photograph which appeared in India Today on November 07 showing a devotee offering Chhath Puja in River Yamuna.

“The chemical foaming seen in this picture belies the data furnished before this Court in the presentation qua the treatment of sewage as per norms before its discharge in River Yamuna,” the Court said.

It observed that the presentation given by the Special Secretary regarding the measures being taken for treatment of sewage before it discharges in the River Yamuna “did not appear to be accurate.”

The Court directed the Chief Secretary to examine the issue and fix responsibility on the officials responsible for the non-adherence of the timelines as mentioned in its April order.

“The Spl. Secretary will place on record the Master plan showing the sewage line network and the storm drain network in the state of Delhi along with the dimensions of the sewer lines and the drains. This direction shall be complied within one week,” the Court said.

The matter will now be heard on November 22.

Earlier, the bench had rapped the civic authorities over the issue of water-logging and said that the drainage system here is “totally pathetic” and is in “very bad state of affairs.”

The suo motu PIL was initiated after the court took note of an article published in the Times of India on June 18, 2022.

Case Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 1254

Click here to read order