As per government data, 24 out of the 35 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Delhi did not meet the prescribed standards for wastewater in the last one year. The 35 STPs located at 20 locations across Delhi can treat up to 597 million gallons per day of sewage and have been utilising around 90 per cent of their capacity. Currently, Delhi generates around 720 mgd of wastewater daily. The STPs that met the norms the maximum number of times included Okhla Phase, Dr Sen Nursing Home Nalla, Delhi Gate Nalla Phase, Delhi Gate Nalla Phase, Chilla, Common Wealth Games Village, Nilothi Phase and Papankalan Phase.
In October 2020, teams of the Delhi Pollution Control Authority collected samples from 33 STPs. Of these, 23 were found not complying with the standards. Meanwhile, 25 STPs in January 2021, 26 in February 2021 and 24 in March 2021 failed to meet the criteria for wastewater. Samples could not be collected for testing in April and May due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown.
