Cleaning the Yamuna: Need, Challenges & Way Ahead

Table of contents

The recent election in Delhi has once again spotlighted the deteriorating state of the Yamuna River. Despite multiple initiatives and substantial financial investments, the 22 km stretch of the river passing through Delhi continues to resemble a sewage canal.
The failure to achieve tangible improvements underscores the urgent need for a structured, accountable, and result-oriented action plan to restore the Yamuna to its natural state.

Centre Prepares ‘Yamuna Master Plan’ for River Rejuvenation

In a decisive move to tackle worsening pollution in the Yamuna River, the Jal Shakti Ministry has formulated a ‘Yamuna Master Plan’, which will soon be submitted to PM Narendra Modi for approval.
This initiative aims to restore the severely polluted stretches of the river in mission mode, drawing insights from the successful Sabarmati Riverfront Project.

Key Features of the Yamuna Master Plan

The Yamuna Master Plan is a comprehensive, sustainable, and scientific approach to river rejuvenation. It focuses on targeted interventions through a four-pronged strategy:

Waste and silt removal: Clearing accumulated waste and silt to restore the river’s natural flow.
Drain cleaning: Identifying and treating major polluting drains to prevent the discharge of untreated wastewater.
Strict monitoring of STPs: Strengthening oversight of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to ensure efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Expansion of treatment infrastructure: Increasing wastewater treatment capacity to manage the growing urban effluents effectively.

With a mission-driven approach, the plan seeks to transform the Yamuna into a clean and rejuvenated river, addressing long-standing environmental concerns in the 22 km stretch passing through Delhi.

Yamuna River: A Brief Overview

The Yamuna River is the longest and westernmost tributary of the Ganga, holding significant historical, cultural, and ecological importance in India.
Origin & Length: The Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri Glacier (Banderpunch Range, Uttarakhand) at ≈6,387 m altitude and flows for ≈1,376 km.

Read more about the Rivers of India in PMFIAS: Indian Physical Geography book.

Credit: Delhi Development Authority

Need for Yamuna Cleaning

Public Health Crisis: Faecal coliform levels exceed 1.3 crores MPN/100ml (safe limit: 500 MPN/100ml), causing severe waterborne diseases (CPCB, 2023).
Water Security Threat: The Yamuna supplies 70% of Delhi’s water, yet 97% of it is untreated sewage (Delhi Jal Board, 2022).
Ecological Disaster: Dissolved oxygen (DO) drops to 0 mg/l in Delhi (required: 5 mg/l), killing aquatic life (DPCC, 2023).
Judicial Mandates Ignored: Despite NGT’s ‘Maily Se Nirmal Yamuna’ plan (2015) and multiple SC directives, pollution persists.
Urban Sustainability Issue: Delhi generates 3,800 MLD sewage, but only 2,700 MLD is treated, leaving 1,100 MLD untreated (CPCB, 2023).
Cultural and Religious Concerns: Toxicity of river water during Chhath Puja poses risks; religious significance is undermined.
Economic and Tourism Loss: Polluted Yamuna reduces Delhi’s tourism potential and urban riverfront development.

Challenges in Cleaning Yamuna River

Concentrated Pollution in a Short Stretch: A mere 2% segment of the Yamuna, from Wazirabad to Okhla in Delhi, accounts for approximately 76% of the river’s total pollution load.
Industrial Discharges: Industrial facilities release substantial quantities of untreated wastewater into the Yamuna, introducing heavy metals and other pollutants.
High Levels of Faecal Contamination: The river’s faecal coliform levels far exceed safe limits, with concentrations reaching 1.1 billion per 100 milliliters, compared to standard of 500 per 100 milliliters.
Toxic Foam Formation: Discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents leads to the formation of toxic foam on the river’s surface, posing health hazards to residents and devotees.
Cultural Practices Amid Pollution: Despite health warnings and court bans, thousands of devotees continue rituals in the polluted Yamuna during festivals, exacerbating contamination.
Other Contributing Factors:
- Idol Immersion: During festivals, idols made with non-biodegradable materials and toxic paints are immersed in the river, releasing harmful substances.
- Solid Waste Disposal: Unregulated dumping of garbage and plastic waste clogs the river, hindering its flow and degrading water quality.
- Agricultural Runoff: Pesticides and fertiliers from nearby agricultural fields wash into the Yamuna, introducing chemicals that disrupt aquatic ecosystems.
- Encroachments: Unauthorised constructions along the riverbanks reduce the river’s natural width, impeding its self-cleaning mechanisms.

Key River Cleaning Programmes & Initiatives in India

Arth Ganga Initiative (2020): Integrates economic activities like organic farming, eco-tourism, and river-based livelihoods for sustainable Ganga conservation.
Polluted River Stretches Restoration Programme (2018): Identifies and restores critically polluted river stretches under CPCB guidelines.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT, 2015): Strengthens wastewater treatment and urban river pollution control.
Namami Gange Programme (2014): A comprehensive mission for Ganga rejuvenation focusing on sewage treatment, river surface cleaning, and afforestation.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (2014): Indirectly contributes to river cleaning by promoting waste management and reducing solid waste dumping in rivers.
National River Conservation Plan (NRCP, 1995): A nationwide initiative covering multiple rivers for pollution abatement, sewage treatment, and riverfront development.
Yamuna Action Plan (YAP, 1993): A Japan-funded project aimed at reducing pollution, improving sewage treatment, and managing wastewater in the Yamuna.
Ganga Action Plan (GAP, 1985): India’s first major river cleaning initiative, focusing on controlling industrial and domestic pollution in the Ganga.

Way Forward: A Targeted Approach for Yamuna Rejuvenation in Delhi

Achieving Complete Sewage Treatment in Delhi: Treat all 3,800 MLD sewage generated; upgrade STPs to handle the 1,100 MLD currently untreated (CPCB, 2023).
Strict Industrial Regulation: Enforce real-time effluent monitoring for Delhi industries; penalize violators under the Water Act, 1974.
Interceptor Drain System: Treat all 22 major drains in Delhi before they discharge into the Yamuna, similar to the Thames model.
Riverfront Restoration in Delhi: Develop green buffer zones along the Delhi stretch to filter pollutants and prevent encroachment.
Community & Religious Engagement: Implement biodegradable alternatives for idol immersion and ritual practices in Delhi.

A clean Yamuna demands a shift from mindless consumption to mindful utilisation. Through scientific interventions, strict enforcement, and community participation, we can achieve “Prayaas Se Prabhaav Tak”, restoring the river as Delhi’s lifeline.

UPSC Mains PYQs – Theme – River Pollution

[UPSC 2024] Industrial pollution of river water is a significant environmental issue in India. Discuss the various mitigation measures to deal with this problem and also the government’s initiatives in this regard.
[UPSC 2017] Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the environment.
[UPSC 2016] Discuss the Namami Gange and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs?
[UPSC 2014] Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management.
[UPSC 2013] Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management.
[UPSC 2013] What are the legal provisions for management and handling of hazardous wastes in India?

Reference: DownToEarth | PMFIAS: Yamuna River

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 112

Q. Despite multiple interventions, the Yamuna River continues to suffer from severe pollution, particularly in Delhi. Critically analyse the key causes of Yamuna’s pollution and evaluate the effectiveness of existing government initiatives. Suggest a comprehensive way forward to rejuvenate the river. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Begin with a compelling fact/statistic about Yamuna pollution to immediately highlight the severity of the issue.
Body: Categorize pollution causes into industrial discharge, untreated sewage, and governance failures, then critically assess the effectiveness of government interventions.
Conclusion: Write a way forward and conclude with a powerful phrase emphasising the need for a paradigm shift in river conservation efforts.