Lessons Learned from YAP-I

Key factors that affected the attainment of the ultimate objectives of YAP-I are related to the original strategy on geographical and demographical coverage, end of pipe approach technology and a limited time horizon. These are briefly described below:

1. While the wastewater load from Delhi alone was estimated to be 70% of the total load from 15 urban towns, its coverage was proportionally low under the sewerage components of YAP. Moreover, the STP capacity created by the Delhi Government concurrently with YAP remained under-utilised to the extent of 25-45% because of severe limitations in the collection system. As a result, untreated sewage continued to flow into the river through a series of storm water drains.
2. Similarly, some of the STPs in Reaches II and IV remained under-utilised due to a combination of limitations in the collection system and power availability. Municipalities and agencies which were responsible for Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of sewerage infrastructure were constrained to maximize the operational efficiency of the system due to a combination of factors related to skills, finance, management systems, power cuts and upstream sewerage infrastructure.
3. The strategy in YAP-I did not adequately address non-point sources of pollution such as Dairy Farms, Dhobhighats, Slaughterhouses, etc.
4. The Community Toilet Complexes prevented to a certain extent the practice of open defecation and yielded consequent benefits in terms of improved hygiene and sanitary conditions of project towns.
5. When YAP-I schemes were being designed, the wastewater discharge standards did not mandate STP effluents to comply with any bacteriological water quality standards. The norms for coliform reduction stipulated after approval of the schemes for treatment. As a result, the STPs did not include effluent disinfection systems.
6. In YAP-I the major consideration was to target and control immediate pollution loads from the domestic sector. Accordingly, whatever sewage treatment capacity was created, it was designed for 1998 population loads.
7. A pilot project in Agra Nagar Nigam was undertaken to enhance the revenue generation by conceptualizing the best practices from other ULBs in the country. Its successful implementation and sustained municipal reform measures were achieved by working in the area of property tax, private sector participation in O&M of municipal services, etc.