First status report of Integrated Drain Management Cell (IDMC) in Original Application No. 06/2012 in the matter of Manoj Mishra Vs Union of India & Others.

The National Green Tribunal in its order dated March 5, 2020 had directed the Delhi government to set up an "Integrated Drain Management Cell" under Chief Secretary for remediation and management of all drains of Delhi with representatives of all agencies/ departments/ urban local departments owning such drains not below the level of Chief Engineer dealing with the management of drains to the IDMC.

The IDMC was directed to prepare and execute an action plan on 'alternate technologies for management of wastewater drains" after appropriate techno-economic evaluation. The NGT also directed the CPCB to revise its report on "Alternate Technologies for Management of Waste Water in Drains".

The CPCB has suggested a basket of alternate technologies for management of wastewater of drain in their report such as phyto-remediation, constructed wetlands, microbils, bioremediation, ex-situ remediation technique, waste stabilization ponds and mechanically aerated lagoons. Also categorization of drains has been carried out on the basis of discharge in the drains, their width, depth of water and pollution. Accordingly different model treatment schemes are suggested in the CPCB report.

For drains coming under Public Works Department (PWD), the CPCB had proposed construction of bio-remediation plant at two locations at Chhattarpur and Chatrasal Stadium for 2.5MLD and 1-1.5MLD respectively and was being taken up by PWD. DDA would be constructing 9 wetlands on 9 drains between DND flyover to Dhobi Ghat Jamia Nagar, the IDMC report uploaded to the NGT site on January 25, 2021 stated.