Delhi's Yamuna River to be Cleaned by December 2027

Delhi Government Announces Scheme to Purify Yamuna by 2027

The Delhi government has set out a detailed plan to purify the Yamuna river, with a special emphasis on a 57-km river stretch from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh. The ambitious scheme has the goal of purifying the river and reviving its health by 2027.

The scheme, unveiled by Additional Chief Secretary Navin Chaudhary on Monday, is targeted towards the completion of key sewage treatment plants and disposal of waste into the river in a safe manner. The government will ensure that all the sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Delhi are operationalized, including six which are under construction, so that untreated sewage and industrial effluents are not released into the river.

Chaudhary declared that the Yamuna, extremely polluted in the last two decades, will be revived phase-wise. The top priority is to make efficient operational running of existing STPs, modernizing many of them, and finishing new STP works by 2026. After all the STPs become functional, authorities will initiate severe action against any such occurrence of untreated sewage flowing into the Yamuna.

Aside from sewage treatment, the plan involves the removal of waste materials like plastic, water hyacinth, and weeds from the river. Seven machines have been used for the removal, and it will be done within a few months. Solid waste and aquatic weeds, which are among the causes of the worsening condition of the river, are what the government is set to remove.

The clean-up plan is also aimed at industrial pollution, i.e., releasing untreated effluents into the Yamuna. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the department of industry will coordinate with each other and keep a watch and ensure that the industrial units are following pollution control measures. A warning has been issued by the government in which it was warned that any industrial unit releasing untreated effluents will be closed down.

In addition to this, arrangements will be made for proper operations of common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) at industrial complexes. Public awareness programs will be arranged to discourage dumping garbage and immersion of idols in the river and special areas will be organized for dignified disposal and immersion.

Conclusion:The river pollution is also due to about 28 to 30 big drains that release untreated waste water into the Yamuna. The Najafgarh and Barapulla drains are the biggest and are a major cause of concern, and their tributaries are also a cause of concern. To avoid this, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is trying to stop sewage from flowing through storm drains. This is to be achieved in the next two to three months. The Delhi government's mission is to end pollution and bring back the natural ecosystem of the river by December 2027. If successful, this project will greatly enhance the quality of life of millions of Delhi citizens who depend on the Yamuna for water use and leisure activities. Waste and water resource management will be instrumental in making the Yamuna a cleaner and healthier river for generations to come.

Source: PTI, February 2025