Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched projects worth Rs 8,941 crore on Thursday to clean the Yamuna in Delhi. The initiatives include a new sewage treatment plant (STP), decentralised sewage treatment plants (DSTPs) and new sewer lines.

The key project is a 124-million-gallon-per-day (MGD) sewage treatment plant at Okhla. The Centre and the Delhi government will jointly construct the facility, which will be the largest STP in the national capital.

The government will also upgrade eight existing STPs, increasing their combined treatment capacity from 78.2 MGD to 140.8 MGD. The upgrades are expected to benefit around 78.5 lakh people.

Officials said the projects would take two to two-and-a-half years to complete. Once finished, they aim to ensure that no untreated wastewater from Delhi enters drains that eventually flow into the Yamuna.

Speaking at the event in Dwarka, Shah said, "I am here among you in Dwarka for the inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies of significant projects worth Rs 9,000 crore, aimed at the purification of the Yamuna."

He described the projects as the backbone of the Yamuna cleanup drive. He added that the initiatives cover wastewater treatment and various drinking water-related measures.

"Immediately after the formation of the government in Delhi, our PM Modi convened a major meeting within the very first month. He presented his vision for purifying the Yamuna to the Delhi government and the Ministry of Home Affairs... In such a short span, we have already covered more than 40% of the journey toward this goal," Shah said.

Earlier, Water Minister Parvesh Verma said the government would establish 29 new DSTPs and sewage pumping stations in outer Delhi. These facilities will cover 358 unauthorised colonies and 113 villages, benefiting 36.29 lakh residents.

"Twenty-nine new DSTPs and sewage pumping stations in outer Delhi will cover 358 unauthorised colonies and 113 villages, benefiting 36.29 lakh residents. Another project involving the laying of 1,034 km of new sewer network will also be launched," Verma said earlier.