The government of Delhi is planning to use treated wastewater from the Okhla sewage treatment plant (STP) to rectify the environmental flow (e-flow) deficit in the Yamuna river. E-flow refers to the minimum amount of water a river needs to maintain its ecological balance and sustain itself. There are plans to release the treated wastewater from the Okhla STP into the river. This initiative is expected to enhance the e-flow by 5.69 cubic metres per second (cumecs). Currently, Yamuna in Delhi needs a flow of 23 cumecs while it stands at only 10 cumecs.
This extra water flow will be diverted downstream of the Okhla barrage and channelled through the Yamuna canal. This will help dilute the river in the Okhla and Kalindi Kunj areas, reducing froth formation, a common issue in these stretches. The works on pipeline installation are ongoing and may be completed by February 2026.