New Delhi: Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) has completed all pending work on rejuvenating two major trunk drains in Dwarka. The project aims to address the issue of waterlogging, provide a better drainage system and boost green cover in the area.
The project included tapping about 15 drain outlets and treating wastewater through three mega sewer treatment plants (STPs) before dumping sewage or untreated waste into the trunk drains.
The trunk drains — no. 2 and 5 — pass through several sectors like 3, 8, 9, 13, 20 and 23 before merging with Najafgarh drain. While trunk drain 2 has a length of 5.2km, trunk drain 2 is 3.8km long.
“Over the past few years, these drains became open sewers due to discharge of wastewater from adjoining colonies. This resulted in inhospitable situations in nearby areas. To address these issues, DDA executed the project to rejuvenate these channels by sewerage interception and treatment,” said an official.
Three STPs were constructed along the trunk drains to treat wastewater. “They are effectively processing sewage and treating it before discharging it into the drain. An STP of 9.5 MLD capacity was installed at Sector 3 on trunk drain 5, another of 5 MLD at Sector 8 on trunk drain 2, and a third of 7 MLD at Sector 19 along trunk drain 2,” said the official.
In addition to the STPs, a polishing pond was developed at the Sector 3 STP, at the beginning of the drain, to improve the quality of water. It provided sufficient retention time for the treated water to settle before being discharged into the drain,” said the official.
DDA has also wrapped up work on a 9km cycle track, 12km walkway, a park along the drain, a nature trail, and an open food court that consists of 74 shops. “The idea was to give enough recreational space to residents,” said the official.
The estimated project cost, which was inaugurated in Feb, was Rs 300 crore.
Meanwhile, DDA said it has completed 80% of work on the 2.4km airport drainage project, which aims to connect IGI Airport (Terminal 1), Sector 8 Dwarka and adjacent regions. The initiative to revitalise the airport drain was conceptualised in 2019 following severe flooding at the airport.
“The project was stuck due to various reasons, including pending permissions from different agencies. LG V K Saxena, who is also the DDA chairman, intervened in June 2022 and held several rounds of meetings. Saxena directed officials to enhance manpower and other resources to complete the drainage project at the earliest. Work on the airport drain then commenced in Nov that year,” said the official.
No waterlogging was reported this monsoon at the airport, he added, as the section connected to the airport and discharging water into trunk drain 2 was completed.
