Discharge by STPS: DJB not taking court’s orders on Yamuna seriously, says HC, warns contempt of court

Of the 37 STPs, DJB chief engineer Bhupesh Kumar informed the court, flow meters have been installed only at the effluent outlets of 22 STPs. For four additional STPs, the flow meters are expected to be installed by March, the court

was told.

The 37 STPs under the DJB take care of sewage from the domestic and residential areas that flow into the Yamuna River. Industrial effluents are under the jurisdiction of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC). The submission came as the court noted that it issued specific orders in November 2024 to install flow meters at the point of discharge in all 37 STPs. For 22 STPs, the flow meters had been installed as part of their construction projects, nearly four-five years ago, indicating that no flow meters have been installed following the court’s directions in November 2024.

“This reveals an unsatisfactory position,” the bench noted in its order on January 28. “The issue of STPs is being monitored and has been dealt with by this court since April 2024. In any event since November 12, 2024, no steps appear to have been taken by the DJB for the installation of flow meters… This gives an impression to the Court that the DJB has not taken the orders of this Court seriously and to date, only estimates are being prepared… This position is completely not acceptable to the court,” it added.

“The court is refraining from taking any action against Mr  Bhupesh Kumar (chief engineer SDW DJB) as he has now given an assurance that the estimate for the remaining 11 STPs would be ready and the flow meters shall be installed within a month. If the same are not installed, the court is clear that it would not hesitate in taking strict and stern action in accordance with law, both under the Contempt of Courts Act as also any other law which may be applicable to ensure that the directions of the court are properly complied with,” the bench further said.

The court has also added the DSIIDC as a party to the litigation and directed it to file an affidavit in court, giving details of how many Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) have been installed or are supervised by the DSIIDC and if any more CETPs are required to be installed to curb untreated water flowing into the river, and whether the CETPs have flow meters and sensors to monitor the effluents discharged into the river.