Rejuvenating the Yamuna: Can India’s Most Polluted River Be Saved?
- theA&Pnews
- Apr 21
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 26
Rejuvenating, Yamuna, River
The Yamuna River, once revered as sacred and life-giving, now flows through Delhi as a polluted, dying stream. Despite multiple attempts over the decades to clean it, the river continues to struggle under the weight of sewage, industrial waste, and urban neglect. As 2025 unfolds, both the central and Delhi governments have renewed their commitment to the Yamuna’s rejuvenation with updated action plans, increased budgets, and enhanced public outreach. But will these efforts be enough to turn the tide?
A River in Crisis
The Yamuna flows for over 1,300 kilometers across northern India, yet it is the 22-km stretch through Delhi—from Wazirabad to Okhla—that accounts for nearly 76% of the river’s total pollution load. While this section comprises only 2% of the river’s length, it receives more than 3,000 million litters of untreated wastewater and industrial effluents each day. High biological oxygen demand (BOD), almost zero dissolved oxygen, and toxic foam are now common indicators of the Yamuna’s deteriorating health in the national capital.
Delhi Government’s Renewed Push
In its 2025–26 budget, the Delhi Government has launched the Yamuna Rejuvenation Mission, a targeted ₹1,500 crore initiative aimed at restoring the river by addressing core infrastructural issues:
₹500 crore has been allocated for the construction of 40 decentralized Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), enabling localized waste treatment before it reaches the river.
Another ₹500 crore is set aside for modernizing and expanding existing STPs to raise the city's sewage treatment capacity from 600 MGD (million gallons per day) to over 750 MGD.
The remaining funds will be used for acquiring advanced waste-processing equipment, real-time monitoring systems, and awareness programs.
Previous Government, also emphasized the six-point strategy to follow:
Upgrading and expanding STPs.
Treating dirty drains through in-situ methods.
Stopping industrial waste dumping.
Expanding sewerage connections to unauthorized colonies.
Desilting old sewer lines.
Promoting public participation and accountability.
The Delhi government has also requested an additional ₹2,000 crore from the central government to support its long-term water and waste management plans.
DPCC’s Master Plan
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has presented a more technical road map to the Prime Minister’s Office. This plan includes:
Tapping and diverting 22 key drains flowing into the Yamuna, 10 of which have already been addressed.
Expanding sewerage networks in unauthorized colonies and JJ clusters to prevent untreated discharge.
Upgrading 37 existing STPs and building new plants to reach a target of 964.5 MGD of treatment capacity by the end of 2026.
Clearing encroachments over 1,500 acres of floodplains and creating 11 biodiversity parks and wetland zones on nearly 1,600 hectares of reclaimed land.
National-Level Efforts
The Ministry of Jal Shakti is spearheading a Yamuna Master Plan, modelled on successful urban riverfront projects like Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati. This includes:
Improving interstate coordination with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to prevent upstream pollution.
Reviewing the 1994 water-sharing agreement to ensure adequate ecological flow through Delhi.
Installing real-time water quality monitoring systems and centralized data dashboards.
Encouraging private investment and PPPs (Public-Private Partnerships) in wastewater treatment infrastructure.
Expert View: TERI’s 10-Point Plan
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has proposed a comprehensive plan with a three-year target to rejuvenate the Yamuna. Highlights include:
Reviewing water-sharing policies to prioritize river health.
Penalizing polluters under a ‘polluter pays’ model.
Prohibiting direct discharge from dhobi ghats and informal industrial units.
Establishing an independent regulatory authority for river governance.
Introducing tax incentives for zero-discharge industries.
Promoting public awareness through educational and civic campaigns.
Challenges on the Ground
Despite increased financial commitment and policy announcements, the road to recovery is steep:
Sewage Coverage Gap: Many areas in Delhi still lack basic sewer connections, particularly in unauthorized colonies and slums.
Underperforming Infrastructure: Many STPs suffer from power outages, poor maintenance, or operate below capacity.
Inter-Agency Conflict: Overlapping responsibilities between central, state, and municipal bodies hinder smooth implementation.
Floodplain Encroachments: Urban development has eaten into natural recharge zones and obstructed floodplains.
Public Apathy: Without citizen involvement, riverfront littering and illegal dumping continue unabated.
Environmentalists argue that while infrastructure is important, real change will come only with behavioral shifts and political accountability. According to the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), the current plans, though ambitious, rely too heavily on STPs and ignore natural solutions like wetland restoration and riverbank greening.
A Vision for 2030
Can the Yamuna ever be swimmable again? That’s the question facing Delhi and the nation. While the roadmap is now more defined than ever before—with multi-agency plans, targeted deadlines, and serious budgets—the final outcome depends on timely execution, community involvement, and a shift in mind   set.
The goal, as articulated by policymakers and environmentalists alike, is clear: a swimmable, fishable, and living Yamuna by 2030. Achieving that vision will require not just government action, but sustained commitment from every citizen.
Hard Questions on the Road to a Cleaner Yamuna
As the Yamuna Rejuvenation Mission gathers momentum, it also invites a series of pressing questions that demand honest answers. Can the river truly become swimmable by 2027 or 2030, given the persistent delays in infrastructure execution? Why do many sewage treatment plants still run below capacity despite massive investments? How effectively is the Delhi government coordinating with upstream states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to curb pollution at the source? Moreover, what mechanisms are in place to ensure public accountability, enforce penalties on polluters—industrial or institutional—and prevent re-encroachment of reclaimed land? Without accessible, real-time data on water quality and stronger citizen engagement, will these efforts truly reach the grassroots? What is being done to educate and involve the next generation—especially school and college students—in river conservation? These questions are not just rhetorical—they are essential checkpoints if the vision of a living, flowing Yamuna is to become a reality rather than remain another missed opportunity.
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