Delhi boosts sewage treatment capacity by 100 MGD in nine months to clean Yamuna

The Delhi government has increased the city’s sewage treatment capacity by nearly 100 million gallons per day (MGD) over the last nine months as part of its intensified drive to clean the Yamuna river, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Wednesday.

The announcement followed a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to assess the capital’s water pollution and sewage management systems. The meeting also focused on progress made by the Delhi Jal Board and other agencies in upgrading sewage treatment plants (STPs) and improving sewer infrastructure.

Sirsa said the city’s total sewage treatment capacity rose from 707 MGD in February 2025 to 814 MGD by November 2025 . During the same period, upgraded sewage treatment capacity increased sharply from 299 MGD to 735 MGD , enabling a significantly higher volume of wastewater to be treated according to improved environmental standards.

He noted that only 16 of Delhi’s 37 sewage treatment plants had been upgraded earlier, but the number has now increased to 28. The capacity of 12 newly upgraded plants has been enhanced from 329 MGD to 436 MGD .

Providing timelines for future work, the minister said that the upgradation of the remaining sewage treatment plants will be completed by December 2027. Their combined capacity is expected to rise from 79 MGD to 135 MGD . In addition, sewer network work for 13 decentralised sewage treatment plants is scheduled to be completed by December 2026.

Sirsa said the Chief Minister has directed officials to ensure continuous monitoring of sewage discharge and plant performance. The review meeting also stressed the need for regular inspections, data-based tracking of treatment capacity, and strict compliance with pollution control norms to prevent untreated sewage from entering the Yamuna.

The minister blamed years of neglect by previous administrations for the deterioration of Delhi’s water and sewage infrastructure but said the current government is working round the clock to restore the system.

“These are not just numbers on paper. They are directly linked to the health of Delhi’s residents and future generations. Clean water is not a luxury; it is the right of every Delhiite,” Sirsa said.

Officials said such review meetings will be held periodically to track progress, indicating the introduction of a continuous monitoring and oversight mechanism as part of the Yamuna rejuvenation programme.