Delhi’s water is much like it’s CM’s relation with the PM, toxic. From the polluted waters of the Yamuna to local water bodies choked with sewage and debris, the situation is not exactly rosy.
But like the arc of every superhero movie, this too seems to have a positive ending.
In Rajokri village on the outskirts of Delhi, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has implemented a pilot program to revive dying natural lakes and I have to say, it’s looking pretty good.
The lake in the village had been dying for years due to a multitude of factors including encroachment and illegal waste dumping. The area had been turned into a cesspool that gave off a horrible stench that made living near it a hellish experience.
What the DJB has done is nothing short of miraculous. Besides bringing about an obvious aesthetic change in the area, the project has turned the complex into a multi-use mini sewage treatment plant.
All the sewage from the surrounding area flows into the plant that filters out the debris and other pollutants and then pumps the water into the lake, rejuvenating it. The entire system is self-sufficient with solar-powered pumps.
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This sewage treatment plant doesn’t look or smell like a conventional one from the outside, instead, it looks like a park with a lake. In fact, that’s what the DJB is trying to make it be.
By transforming this once desolate lake into a place fit for social gathering, the authorities are trying to inculcate a sense of belonging and attachment in the locals towards the lake. This would not only help in building the community but also help the lake survive and flourish.
Additionally, the lake also serves as a Chatt Ghat for the Chatt Puja.
Further, plans include the planting of more trees and installation of an open gym and some swings for kids to play with. The project till now has been completed at a cost of roughly Rs. 77 lakh for the plant and Rs. 92 lakh for the landscaping.
For a more in-depth coverage, watch this video by Dhruv Rathee which was the initial inspiration for this article.
This is a small part of a mega project worth Rs. 453 crores that aims to revive 159 dying lakes in Delhi.
The DJB aims to improve depleting groundwater levels in Delhi and to give the city sustainable water supply. The excess groundwater is slated to augment Delhi’s water supply wherever required.
This is a much needed step in a city that is bound to face a water crisis in the near future. Stopping this crisis before it becomes too big to handle is the only way out and it is extremely exciting to hear that the authorities are actually implementing something instead of debating where the file has reached.
Reach the blogger at: @tanmaymay_
Sources: YouTube, Outlook
Image source: Dhruv Rathee, Google Images+
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