This presentation provides an introduction to the book by the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) titled Sewage Canal: How to Clean the Yamuna”. As per the presentation, several crore rupees have been sunk into plans to clean up the Yamuna. A stretch of around 22 km in Delhi contributes 70 per cent of the total pollution load of the river. The authorities have been busy chasing targets to fulfill these plans. But the river remains dirty. 

Some of the key points made in the presentation are -

• There is a need to understand the political economy of defecation.
• There is a need to treat all sewage and intercept sewage from open drains (not just ‘legal’ sewage). The open drains can be used as treatment areas. Apart from this, the current sewage treatment plants need to be maximized and there is no need to new ones.
• After treatment there is no need to discharge into drain. Once sewage is treated; reuse-recycle so that it is not added to the untreated sewage in drain. Alternately it can be put into river for dilution after treating it close to the river.
• It is unacceptable that half of Delhi does not have access to sanitation or sewage. There is a need to find leapfrog solutions to new sewage answers.
• There is a need to re-invent the flush toilet – so that it is affordable for all.

Download the presentation from below: