Sonia Vihar water plant formally inaugurated

New Delhi: The capital finally heaved a sigh of relief as the long-awaited Sonia Vihar Water Treatment Plant with a 140 million-gallons-per-day capacity was formally inaugurated here yesterday, a month after it actually got operational.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi along with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit threw open the plant to millions of Delhiites by pressing a button and unveiling a stone plaque brought from Udaipur.

The state-of-the-art plant would be maintained by the 42-billion euro French multinational Degremont (subsidiary of Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Water Division) for the next 10 years.

The Rs1.89-billion plant has come up as a result of a design-build-operate contract with the French water treatment company.

Recovery system

"Degremont ensures the plant is backed by a complete sludge and wastewater recovery system promising a treatment capacity of 635 million litres per day that will cater to the 3.5 million population of Delhi," said chief of Degremont, Thierry Mallet.

"The plant will reduce power consumption by 30 per cent and water losses by almost 40 per cent compared to the conventional filters."

A. Vidyavathsal, chief operating officer of Degremont India, said: "The contract is for 10 years. However, this may be extended at the end of 10 years by mutual consent."

Delhi Jal Board will be paying Rs75 million annually to Degremont as maintenance fees.

Uttar Pradesh first released water for the treatment plant on May 21, and on August 9 the Delhi Jal Board released about 65 million gallons of water, providing great relief to millions of residents.

Residents happy

Sharda Baruah, 79, a resident of Alaknanda (south Delhi), said: "After many years finally I can see the sight of overflowing water-tanks. I hope our sleepless nights are over."