Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News Item titled "Why 75 % of Delhi’s STPs aren’t ready to tackle Yamuna stink" appearing in The Times of India dated 19.02.2024 dated 23/02/2024.

The Original Application is registered on the basis of the news item titled "Why 75 % of Delhi’s STPs aren’t ready to tackle Yamuna stink" published in ‘Times of India’ dated 19.02.2024. The news item revealed a very serious issue that the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) installed by the Delhi Jal Board along the river Yamuna are not functioning as per norms. About 75% have no or insufficient disinfecting equipment. Hence, outlets of STPs have very high coliform and fecal coliform counts.

The news item also revealed that the STPs do not have facilities for bacterial disinfection such as chlorination, UV treatment or ozonation. It also disclosed that there is a gap of 227 MGD in treatment of sewage.

The NGT directed notice to be issued to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The court directed the authorities to file their response at least one week before the next date of hearing, May 3, 2024.

The CPCB has been directed to submit the report including the details of performance of STPs. In addition to furnishing information for each STP, the details of utilization of treated sewage and timelines set for ensuring treatment of entire sewage generated in Delhi should also be disclosed, the order said.