New Delhi, Aug. 25 -- Delhi is set for a major overhaul of its water and sewerage infrastructure, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Tuesday unveiling a long-term plan involving a Rs 56,000-crore Water Master Plan, ADB-backed projects worth Rs 1,741 crore and a Rs 11,427-crore transformation of water networks in West and Southwest Delhi. The government aims to move towards 24x7 pressurised supply, universal metering and real-time monitoring while sharply reducing leakages and unauthorised connections.
836-km network overhaul
Under the ADB-assisted Wazirabad project, 836 km of water network will be upgraded across 43.96 sq km, covering seven UGR command areas and eight Assembly constituencies. The Rs.1,741-crore project will include 570 km of new or replacement pipelines, rehabilitation of UGRs and pumping systems, 131 District Metered Areas and 2.15 lakh household connections.
The system will use SCADA, smart meters, pressure and flow sensors and NRW monitoring. The target is 100 per cent metering, 150 LPCD supply and reduction of non-revenue water to 15 per cent. The project will receive 70 per cent ADB funding and 30 per cent from Delhi.
"The sewer and water issue is one of the biggest issues of the Delhi government. We are working on this legacy issue,"
Gupta said.
Rs 11,427-crore West, Southwest plan
Two projects covering 363.2 sq km, 20 UGR command areas and 20 Assembly constituencies will benefit around 36.4 lakh people. West Delhi's Rs.4,330.72-crore project will cover 1,447 km of network and benefit 14.16 lakh people, while the Rs.7,096.35-crore Southwest Delhi project will cover 2,383 km and benefit 22.23 lakh.
The projects are proposed under the Urban Challenge Fund, with 25 per cent each from the Centre and Delhi and 50 per cent through loans/HAM/PPP.
Sewerage, reuse and local infrastructure
Work orders worth Rs.2,990 crore have been issued for 28 decentralised STPs, while Rs 1,090 crore has been sanctioned for upgrading existing plants. Sewerage has been completed in 114 unauthorised colonies, covering 1,28,633 households, while work continues in 276 colonies and connections are being provided to 5,44,680 households across 647 colonies.
A new 18-MLD UGR costing Rs.55.21 crore is planned at Harsh Vihar, Shakur Basti. Okhla's Batla House and Abul Fazal Enclave will receive 2.2 MGD and 3.7 MGD UGRs and a booster station at Rs.74 crore, benefiting two lakh residents.
Reclaimed water push
Under the proposed Reclaimed Water Policy, 2026, Delhi will tap the 363 MGD of treated wastewater currently available for reuse. Of 750 MGD treated, around 483 MGD is reusable but only 120 MGD is currently being reused. The water will be promoted for construction, horticulture, landscaping, washing and industrial cooling, with eligible bulk consumers targeted for 100 per cent reclaimed-water use by 2036.
Bills, assets and employee welfare
The LPSC waiver scheme has collected Rs.743 crore, benefiting 5.15 lakh domestic and 15,796 commercial consumers. The unauthorised water connection regularisation scheme has been extended to March 31, 2027, with 3,544 connections regularised.
The government also announced cashless healthcare for around 18,000 DJB employees and pensioners and plans to appoint a transaction adviser to assess and monetise underused DJB assets, including Varunalaya, Haiderpur and Lajpat Nagar properties. Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said a Water Master Plan and Drainage Master Plan were being implemented, with work underway at 60 of 169 waterlogging spots identified in 2025.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.