Cleaning the Yamuna: A Race Against Time – As pollution levels hit record highs, the government launches an urgent multi-agency effort to rejuvenate the river. Can it be revived in three years?
By PC bureau
New Delhi:
New Delhi: In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s electoral promise, an ambitious effort to rejuvenate the Yamuna River has begun in earnest. With trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and a dredge utility craft already deployed, the long-overdue cleaning operation is now in full swing, aiming to restore the river’s health.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena met with Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary (I&FC) on Monday, instructing them to expedite the cleaning process without delay. To tackle the crisis comprehensively, a four-pronged strategy has been put in place:
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- Debris Removal – The first step involves clearing the river of accumulated trash, garbage, and silt.
- Drain Cleaning – Simultaneous cleaning of the Najafgarh Drain, Supplementary Drain, and other major drains feeding into the Yamuna will begin.
- Monitoring of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) – A daily assessment of existing STPs will be conducted to ensure their efficiency and output.
- Expansion of Treatment Infrastructure – A time-bound plan will be implemented for constructing new STPs and Decentralized STPs (DSTPs) to address the shortfall in treating approximately 400 MGD (Million Gallons per Day) of sewage.
#WATCH | Delhi Lt Governor Office says, "Works on cleaning river Yamuna have already begun with trash skimmers, weed harvesters and a dredge utility craft already starting cleaning operations in the river today. Delhi LG VK Saxena yesterday met the Chief Secretary and ACS (I&FC)… pic.twitter.com/aNY5FiuInr
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2025
The ambitious plan aims to restore the Yamuna within the next three years, requiring seamless coordination between multiple agencies, including the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Irrigation & Flood Control Department (I&FC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Environment Department, Public Works Department (PWD), and Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Progress will be monitored at the highest level on a weekly basis to ensure timely execution.
In addition to these measures, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been directed to maintain strict oversight on industrial units, preventing the discharge of untreated effluents into city drains.
A History of Delays and Renewed Efforts
The Yamuna rejuvenation efforts were initially launched in January 2023 under a mission mode approach when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) formed a High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by LG Saxena. The committee conducted five meetings, closely monitoring cleaning operations. However, the then AAP-led Delhi Government under Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal moved the Supreme Court, securing a stay on the NGT’s directives through an order by then Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on July 10, 2023.
Following this legal intervention, all rejuvenation efforts were stalled. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (CoD) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BoD) levels, which had been showing signs of improvement, began deteriorating. By early this year, pollution levels in the Yamuna had reached record highs.
With the renewed political and administrative push, authorities are determined to bring the river back to its pristine state. The next few months will be critical in assessing the effectiveness of the initiative and ensuring that previous setbacks do not derail progress again.
