Is ‘Polluted to Pure Yamuna’ a Distant Reality: Maili se Nirmal Jamuna
Gustakhi Maaf Haryana-Pawan Kumar Bansal
By our enlightened reader Dr. Shiv Singh RawatIs ‘Polluted to Pure Yamuna’ a Distant Reality: (Maili se Nirmal Jamuna)
The Political Context
The Yamuna’s pollution crisis became a central issue in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, with all major parties addressing the environmental disaster. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, accused Haryana of “poisoning” the river, while data revealed that the Yamuna enters Delhi relatively clean but becomes severely polluted within the capital. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, turned the narrative against the AAP government, promising a three-year cleanup plan. This issue resonated with voters and played a role in AAP’s defeat. While political rivalries intensified, the elections also brought much-needed attention to the river’s deteriorating state. With the BJP now in power in both Delhi and Haryana, there is hope for a more coordinated approach to restoring the river. The BJP’s manifesto includes an ambitious cleanup strategy, shifting the political conversation from blame to actionable solutions.
Understanding the Yamuna’s Pollution Crisis
The Yamuna originates from the Himalayas and flows through Uttarakhand before entering Haryana. At Hathnikund Barrage, nearly 80% of its water is diverted for irrigation, drastically reducing its flow by the time it reaches Delhi. Further depletion occurs at Wazirabad Barrage, where Delhi extracts water for drinking purposes. This leaves the river with minimal freshwater, making it highly vulnerable to pollution. The most critical stretch of the Yamuna, between Wazirabad and Okhla in Delhi, contributes nearly 78% of its total pollution. The key sources of contamination include untreated sewage from unauthorized colonies, inefficient sewage treatment plants (STPs), industrial effluents, solid waste, and agricultural runoff. The presence of encroachments along the riverbanks further exacerbates the problem by restricting the flow of fresh water.
The Extent of Pollution
Water quality tests conducted in 2025 revealed alarming statistics. Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, essential for aquatic life, drop to nearly zero in the most polluted stretches, while biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), a measure of organic pollution, reaches 100 ppm—far above the acceptable limit of 3 ppm. Fecal coliform levels, indicating sewage contamination, exceed 250,000 MPN/100ml, rendering the water unfit for human contact. The presence of high ammonia and phosphate levels leads to the formation of toxic foam, especially in winter when oxygenation is naturally low. Several hotspots, including the Najafgarh Drain in Wazirabad, Main Drain 2 in Panipat, Badshahpur Drain in Gurgaon, and Shahadra Drain near Okhla, contribute significantly to the river’s pollution load. Unless these sources are addressed, any cleanup efforts will be ineffective.
BJP’s Four-Pronged Strategy (2025-2027)
The BJP government has outlined a structured approach to cleaning the Yamuna:
- Removing garbage and silt from the riverbed.
- Cleaning major drains like Najafgarh and supplementary drains.
- Daily monitoring and upgrading of STPs to improve wastewater treatment.
- Restoring freshwater flow and preventing further waste dumping.
With both Delhi and Haryana under BJP rule, political disputes that previously hindered cleanup efforts may no longer pose a major obstacle. However, the success of the initiative will depend on strict enforcement, sustained financial support, and active public participation.
Challenges & Roadblocks
Despite renewed political commitment, several challenges remain. The enforcement of pollution control laws has been weak, allowing industries and residents to discharge waste into the Yamuna unchecked. Unauthorized colonies, which continue to expand, lack proper sewage systems, leading to massive amounts of untreated waste entering the river. Encroachments along the riverbanks further reduce its natural flow. Coordination between Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh also remains a critical issue, as multiple states contribute to the river’s pollution.
Is It Possible to Clean the Yamuna by 2027?
Achieving bathing-quality water (BOD <3 mg/l, DO >5 mg/l) in the Yamuna within the next three years is ambitious but not impossible. While complete rejuvenation may take longer, significant improvements can be achieved if all wastewater entering the river is treated. Measures such as in-situ bioremediation using wetlands and microbial treatments, along with stricter industrial regulations, can accelerate progress. Delhi generates 790 MGD of sewage, and while existing STPs have a capacity of 700 MGD, a large portion of untreated waste still enters the river due to unauthorized colonies and inefficient waste management. Unless this gap is addressed, pollution levels will remain high.
Solutions for Yamuna Rejuvenation
1. Enhancing Sewage Treatment:
A major challenge in Yamuna’s restoration is the treatment of sewage before it enters the river. The existing STPs in Delhi, while extensive, are often inefficient or underutilized. Upgrading these plants to meet stricter pollution control standards and ensuring their daily monitoring is crucial. Additionally, decentralized STPs should be set up in unauthorized colonies, which currently lack proper sewage infrastructure.
2. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) – Phyco-Remediation:
An innovative, cost-effective, and in-situ approach to cleaning the Yamuna is phyco-remediation, which uses microalgae and diatoms to break down pollutants naturally. This method is significantly cheaper than conventional sewage treatment—costing just ₹2.1 per kiloliter compared to ₹8-10 per kiloliter for STPs—and does not require additional land. It can be implemented in high-pollution areas like Najafgarh Drain, Agra Canal in Palwal, Main Drain 2 in Panipat, and Shahadra Drain, with an estimated cost of ₹50-60 crore per year per location for treating 750 MLD of wastewater.
3. Restoring Ecological Flow:
One of the fundamental problems with the Yamuna’s health is its reduced water flow. Releasing controlled freshwater discharges at strategic points, promoting rainwater harvesting, and rejuvenating local water bodies can help maintain a continuous flow, preventing the river from becoming stagnant and further polluted.
4. Industrial Pollution Control:
Many industries along the Yamuna continue to discharge untreated effluents into the river. Strict enforcement of pollution control laws is necessary to ensure that effluent treatment plants (ETPs) are functioning properly. Crackdowns on illegal industries and penalties for non-compliance must be implemented to prevent further contamination.
5. Community Engagement & Awareness:
Public participation is key to sustaining long-term cleanup efforts. Citizen-led drives to remove waste from the riverbanks, along with awareness campaigns promoting eco-friendly detergents and waste segregation, can play a crucial role in reducing pollution at the source.
6. Check on Illegal Activities:
Illegal mining and encroachments on the Yamuna flood plains must be strictly controlled, as these activities exacerbate the river’s pollution problem.
7. Better Coordination with Neighboring States:
Effective collaboration between the states of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh is essential to address pollution at a regional level.
The Road Ahead
Cleaning the Yamuna requires a shift from short-term interventions to long-term structural reforms. The focus must move beyond superficial beautification projects to actual pollution control. Preventing untreated wastewater from entering the river, ensuring industries comply with environmental norms, and strengthening political accountability are critical steps toward achieving lasting change. A holistic water management policy is needed, integrating sewage treatment, wastewater reuse, rainwater harvesting, and conservation strategies. The Centre should also play a proactive role by overseeing Yamuna restoration efforts and ensuring funds are used effectively.
Conclusion
The Yamuna’s pollution crisis is more than an environmental issue—it is a public health emergency. While political attention has helped push cleanup efforts forward, true success will depend on sustained action, technological innovation, and strict governance. If Delhi effectively implements sewage treatment upgrades, nature-based solutions, and ecological flow restoration, a cleaner Yamuna by 2027 is achievable. However, this will require consistent enforcement, public engagement, and a commitment beyond election cycles.
The Yamuna is not just a river; it is Delhi’s lifeline. Restoring it is not an option—it is a necessity for the city’s future.
Note:
Experts view of Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat, former Superintending Engineer, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Haryana. Dr. Rawat holds a PhD from IIT Delhi on the Yamuna River and water resources of Haryana. He is the convener of the Yamuna Bachao Abhiyan and initiated the #WalkForYamuna campaign, walking for seven days along the Yamuna to create awareness about the conservation of the river and the environment.