New Delhi: Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has awarded a Rs17.7 lakh contract to IIT Delhi to independently evaluate the performance of all 29 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the capital, including testing whether their disinfection systems are effective in eliminating faecal coliform bacteria before treated sewage is discharged and reaches Yamuna.In an affidavit dated June 30, filed before the tribunal, DJB informed that IIT Delhi has been engaged for a comprehensive “Performance Evaluation and Adequacy Assessment” of all its STPs on June 5. The work order was issued on April 29 following a review meeting chaired by union home minister in Dec 2025.The development follows proceedings before National Green Tribunal (NGT), which took suo motu cognisance of a TOI report highlighting poor performance of Delhi’s STPs.The TOI report titled “Why 75% of Delhi’s STPs aren’t ready to tackle Yamuna stink”, published on Feb 19, 2024, flagged that a majority of the city’s sewage treatment plants were failing to meet prescribed standards, raising concerns over untreated or inadequately treated sewage. It also highlighted lack of provisions to disinfect the sewage.Acting on the report, the tribunal had directed DJB to enrol IIT Delhi to independently examine whether the UV disinfection systems installed across Delhi’s STPs were capable of achieving the prescribed faecal coliform standards. In Dec 2025, IIT Delhi informed that the study was delayed because it did not receive timely access to STPs and operational data. Subsequently, DJB assured the tribunal that a nodal officer would be designated and access to treatment plants facilitated.The institute has been asked to submit its report within 15 days of completing sampling at the respective STPs..
