The Delhi Government is turning to corporate companies for support through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding to help clean the Yamuna River by setting up modular sewage treatment plants (STPs) along major open drains in the city, officials said on Friday. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has invited private companies to sponsor these decentralised STPs as part of the citys larger plan to rejuvenate the deteriorating ecological health of the Yamuna. These modular plants will be installed along drains that directly discharge wastewater into the river. Unlike conventional sewage treatment systems, which require large areas of land and significant investment, modular STPs are compact and can be installed in parts along the length of the drain. This approach is expected to speed up sewage treatment and provide flexibility in locations where land is limited or full-scale STPs are not feasible. The DJB is encouraging corporate entities to commit funds through CSR for the installation of these STPs, said a DJB official. Instead of routing payments through the Government, companies will directly pay approved vendors after installation, while the DJB will oversee the process and ensure land availability. Once installed, the DJB will take over the operation and maintenance of the plants, ensuring long-term functionality. Companies contributing to the project will also be allowed branding opportunities, such as signage at the site, aligning their CSR activities with the national environmental agenda and enhancing their sustainability credentials. This is a win-win. While the government gains much-needed support for cleaning the Yamuna, companies can visibly demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility, the official added. The DJB already operates 37 STPs across Delhi, mostly through private partnerships where the government pays companies for their services. However, some major drains — like the Najafgarh drain — and smaller sub-drains still carry large amounts of untreated wastewater into the Yamuna. In areas where sewage cannot be intercepted or diverted, these modular plants will serve as a critical solution. For years, the Government has been working on the Interceptor Sewer Project to trap sewage and divert it to treatment plants. But the process has been slow in areas with complex drainage patterns or space limitations. Officials believe the new initiative will accelerate progress by treating wastewater directly at the source. The selected vendors must ensure that the treated water meets the standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the official said. This is not just about installing equipment — its about improving the rivers health in a meaningful way. A recent tender floated by the DJB highlights that these installations will be prioritised at critical points along the drains where pollution levels are highest and the impact on water quality is most severe.  

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