In a significant move to revitalise green cover without depleting groundwater, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to launch a pilot project in the Yamuna Vihar ward. The initiative involves irrigating parks using treated water from a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).

Project Overview And Execution

This initiative marks the first of its kind in the Trans-Yamuna area. The Shahdara North Zone has initiated the process of appointing a consultant to draft the project framework. The core components of the plan include:

Source: Treated water will be sourced from the Delhi Jal Board’s STP on Wazirabad Road, near Kardampuri.

Infrastructure: A pipeline network will be laid from the STP directly to the parks.

Technology: Automatic sprinklers will be installed in the parks to ensure efficient water distribution.

Survey: The appointed consultant will determine the required pipeline length and the number of parks that can be feasibly connected.

Addressing The Water Crisis

Currently, Yamuna Vihar is home to 73 municipal parks spanning 33.95 acres. However, the condition of these parks is deteriorating:

- Many parks are desolate and lack basic grass coverage.

- While trees remain, flowerbeds have vanished due to the water shortage.

- The Root Cause: Previously, parks were irrigated using submersible pumps. However, following National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders to prevent groundwater extraction, these pumps were shut down.

- Logistical Challenges: While water tankers are used occasionally, the corporation lacks the resources to supply every park regularly.

- This scarcity is not limited to Yamuna Vihar; across the Trans-Yamuna area, a total of 2,105 parks (597 in Shahdara North and 1,508 in Shahdara South) are facing similar challenges.

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Compliance With NGT Directives

This project is a direct response to environmental regulations. The NGT has mandated that:

- Treated water from STPs must be utilised for gardening and non-potable purposes.

- Arrangements must be made to supply water to all parks located within a five-kilometre radius of an STP (Order issued in 2019).

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Future Outlook

Puneet Sharma, Chairman of Shahdara North Zone, expressed optimism about the initiative:

- "This will be a good project. A project plan will be prepared based on a preliminary survey, and a consultant will be appointed soon. This will enable the reuse of STP water."

If this pilot project in Yamuna Vihar proves successful, the model will be replicated in parks across other wards to address the water shortage systematically.