Yamuna rejuvenation: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta clears ₹1,000 crore water projects
Synopsis
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has cleared over ₹1,000 crore in water infrastructure projects in one go — 12 new sewage treatment plants under the AMRUT scheme, a capacity-expanded Keshopur STP, a 40-year-old sewer line rehabilitation, and a new underground reservoir. The move directly targets the Najafgarh Drain, long identified as one of the Yamuna's biggest pollution contributors.
Key Takeaways
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta approved projects worth over ₹1,000 crore on 24 May for Yamuna rejuvenation and water infrastructure.
12 Decentralised Sewage Treatment Plants (DSTPs) to be built in the Najafgarh region under the AMRUT scheme at ₹860 crore , with a combined capacity of 46.5 MGD .
Projects will benefit over 121 unauthorised colonies , 35 villages , and nearly 7 lakh people .
Keshopur STP Phase I capacity to be upgraded from 12 MGD to 18 MGD at ₹122 crore , with an 11-year O&M component.
A 40-year-old trunk sewer in Trilokpuri to be rehabilitated at ₹57 crore ; new UGR in Rohtas Nagar, Shahdara at ₹27 crore .
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on 24 May approved a clutch of infrastructure projects worth over ₹1,000 crore aimed at accelerating the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River, improving sewage treatment, and securing the capital's water supply. The approvals span new treatment plants, sewer rehabilitation, and rainwater harvesting initiatives across multiple constituencies.
12 New Sewage Treatment Plants for Najafgarh Region
The centrepiece of the package is the installation of 12 Decentralised Sewage Treatment Plants (DSTPs) across the Najafgarh region, to be developed under the Centre's AMRUT scheme at an estimated cost of ₹860 crore. Together, the plants will have a combined treatment capacity of 46.5 MGD.
A 17 MGD plant will come up at Mitraon. Four DSTPs will be established at Kair, Kanganheri, Kakrola, and Dichaon Kalan; three at Galibpur, Sarangpur, and Shikarpur; and four more at Hasanpur, Jaffarpur, Kazipur, and Khera Dabar. The projects are expected to benefit more than 121 unauthorised colonies, 35 villages, and nearly 7 lakh residents, while preventing untreated sewage from flowing into the Najafgarh Drain.
Keshopur STP Upgrade and Water Conservation Push
Chief Minister Gupta also announced the upgrade of Phase I of the Keshopur Sewage Treatment Plant, with its capacity set to rise from 12 MGD to 18 MGD at an estimated cost of ₹122 crore. The upgraded plant will be required to meet the latest prescribed water-quality standards and will include an 11-year operation and maintenance component, with an emphasis on promoting recycled water use.
On the rainwater harvesting front, the Delhi Jal Board has been directed to construct new harvesting structures and restore existing ones across various government departments — a move the Chief Minister described as central to improving groundwater levels and long-term water security.
Ageing Infrastructure Rehabilitated in Trilokpuri and Shahdara
A major trunk sewer line running from Amichand Chowk to the Old Kalyanpuri Sewage Pumping Station in the Trilokpuri Assembly constituency will be rehabilitated at a cost of nearly ₹57 crore. The line is over 40 years old and has reportedly suffered multiple cave-ins and technical failures in recent years.
Separately, a new Underground Reservoir (UGR) with a capacity of 0.72 MGD, along with a Booster Pumping Station, will be built in Rohtas Nagar in the Shahdara Assembly constituency at an estimated ₹27 crore, strengthening local water supply infrastructure.
Broader Mission for Yamuna Rejuvenation
Chief Minister Gupta stated that the Delhi government is working in 'mission mode' for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna and the cleaning of the Najafgarh Drain, with the broader goal of transforming Delhi into a 'clean, green and water-secure capital.' This comes amid longstanding concerns over the Yamuna's deteriorating water quality, a perennial issue that has drawn scrutiny from the Supreme Court and successive governments. The latest approvals represent one of the larger single-tranche infrastructure commitments by the current administration toward this goal.
Point of View
But Delhi has a long history of Yamuna clean-up announcements that outpaced delivery. The AMRUT-funded DSTPs are the most credible element — central scheme funding reduces the risk of state fiscal slippage — but the 46.5 MGD combined capacity is a fraction of the estimated 700-plus MGD of untreated sewage that enters the river daily. The Keshopur upgrade's 11-year O&M clause is a structurally sound addition that past projects lacked, yet without independent monitoring of effluent quality, it risks becoming a paper standard. The real test will be whether these plants are commissioned on schedule and whether treated-water reuse actually scales — two metrics Delhi's water agencies have historically struggled to report transparently.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ₹1,000 crore Yamuna rejuvenation projects approved by Delhi CM Rekha Gupta?
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta approved a package of water infrastructure projects worth over ₹1,000 crore on 24 May, including 12 new Decentralised Sewage Treatment Plants in the Najafgarh region, an upgrade of the Keshopur STP, rehabilitation of an ageing trunk sewer in Trilokpuri, and a new underground reservoir in Shahdara. The projects collectively aim to reduce untreated sewage entering the Yamuna and improve water supply across Delhi.
How many people will the new sewage treatment plants benefit?
The 12 new DSTPs in the Najafgarh region are expected to benefit more than 121 unauthorised colonies, 35 villages, and nearly 7 lakh residents. They will prevent untreated sewage from flowing into the Najafgarh Drain, a major tributary-level pollution source for the Yamuna.
What is the AMRUT scheme and how does it relate to these projects?
The AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme is a Central Government initiative that funds urban water and sanitation infrastructure. The 12 DSTPs in the Najafgarh region, costing approximately ₹860 crore, will be developed under this scheme.
What is being done to upgrade the Keshopur Sewage Treatment Plant?
Phase I of the Keshopur STP will be upgraded to expand its capacity from 12 MGD to 18 MGD at an estimated cost of ₹122 crore. The project includes an 11-year operation and maintenance component and is designed to ensure treated water meets the latest prescribed quality standards.
Which areas will get improved water supply under these approvals?
Residents of Trilokpuri Assembly constituency will benefit from the rehabilitation of a 40-year-old trunk sewer line at ₹57 crore. Rohtas Nagar in the Shahdara Assembly constituency will receive a new 0.72 MGD Underground Reservoir and Booster Pumping Station at ₹27 crore to strengthen local water supply.
