Context:
• A major contradiction has emerged between the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) regarding the performance of Delhi’s sewage treatment plants (STPs).
• CPCB’s June inspection found all 37 DJB-run STPs failing standards, while DPCC’s reports from the same month rated most as compliant — raising concerns over monitoring integrity and water quality reliability.
Key Highlights
- CPCB Flags Complete STP Failure
- CPCB’s June inspection found all 37 STPs of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) failing prescribed discharge norms.
- 36 plants violated Fecal Coliform limits, recording values up to 4.7×10⁹ MPN/100 ml (limit: 230 MPN/100 ml).
- DPCC Reports Provide Contradictory Picture
- DPCC rated most plants as “meeting standards”, contradicting CPCB findings from the same period.
- Highlights severe inconsistencies in local-level monitoring.
- Evidence of Incomplete Treatment
- CPCB found high Ammoniacal Nitrogen, indicating incomplete biological treatment.
- Multiple STPs discharged water with BOD and COD levels above permissible limits.
- Accredited Laboratories Issue
- DJB’s internal laboratories have lost NABL accreditation, weakening verification and undermining DPCC’s credibility.
Significance
- Core Pollution Indicators Violated
- Elevated BOD and COD levels signify untreated or partially treated sewage entering water bodies.
- High Fecal Coliform counts point to pathogen contamination, posing major public health risks.
- Major Facilities Show Conflicting Readings
- STPs at Akshardham, Najafgarh, and Okhla Phase VI showed wide variations between CPCB and DPCC data.
- CPCB officials emphasised this was the first independent inspection of all DJB plants.
- Reason for Divergence in Results
- DJB officials claim:
• DPCC and CPCB monitor different parameters.
• STP performance can fluctuate based on inflow volume and load. - However, CPCB found the discrepancies too large to be explained by routine fluctuations.
- Governance & Accountability Concerns
- Contradictory reports from two watchdogs raise questions about:
• Regulatory oversight
• Data integrity
• Transparency in environmental monitoring - Reliability of compliance certificates is now in question since DJB labs lack accreditation.
Prelims Focus
- Roles of CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB/DPCC).
- Water quality indicators: BOD, COD, Coliforms.
- Key provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Mains Relevance
GS 3 – Environment & Ecology
- Urban water pollution
- River rejuvenation challenges (Yamuna context)
- Role of STPs in environmental management
- Institutional gaps in pollution governance
GS 2 – Governance
- Regulatory oversight issues
- Data transparency and accountability
- Role of independent monitoring in environmental governance