Yamuna Pollution Crisis: Parliamentary Panel Finds 23 Sites Failing Water Quality Tests

A parliamentary committee has unearthed shocking amounts of pollution in the Yamuna River, with 23 of 33 samples analyzed poor in water quality. The report refers to the sharp decline in the river's ecosystem on the Delhi stretch, where dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, essential for aquatic life, are nearly zero. In spite of relentless efforts like the modernization of sewage treatment plants (STPs), pollution continues to be a cause for concern, with diverse stakeholders raising alarm bells.

Yamuna's Critical Water Quality Degradation:-
The Yamuna runs 40 km through Delhi, entering from Haryana at Palla and leaving at Asgarpur to Uttar Pradesh. But its viability for sustaining life has decreased considerably. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been monitoring water quality at 33 locations from January 2021 to May 2023 for Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), and Fecal Coliform (FC) concentrations. The findings indicated that although Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand locations satisfied basic water quality criteria, all six sites in Haryana and the majority in Delhi were negative.

Seven locations were surveyed in Delhi and none of these locations fulfilled the standards needed in 2021. Although the Palla location improved in 2022 and 2023, other locations still possessed exorbitantly high levels of pollution. The Yamuna section in Delhi is extremely polluted with untreated sewage and industrial effluent and is not conducive to supporting aquatic life.

Encroachment and Environmental Degradation:-
The committee has also raised an alarm over encroachments along the Yamuna floodplains, which add to the levels of pollution. Delhi and Haryana have already submitted encroachment information, while Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are yet to file complete reports. Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has reclaimed 477.79 hectares of encroached land, but legal issues continue to hinder overall restoration work.

One of the primary problems highlighted in the report is the lack of demarcation of Uttar Pradesh's floodplains, which hinders the management of floods and environmental conservation activities. The Department of Water Resources has been asked to engage state governments and the DDA for evictions of unauthorized encroachments and the rehabilitation of the Yamuna floodplains.

Toxic Sludge and Industrial Pollution:-
The most critical issue is the piling up of poisonous sludge in the Yamuna riverbed. Delhi Development Authority and CSIR-NEERI, in a joint study, detected heavy metals such as chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc at high concentrations in sludge samples from locations like the Old Iron Bridge, Geeta Colony, and DND Bridge.

The parliamentary committee had suggested controlled dredging for the dumping of this poisonous sludge. But the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) had warned against massive dredging, saying this could destabilize the river bed and be harmful to the environment.

The second chronic problem is unlawful industrial pollution. While Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) manages 28 industrial estates—17 out of which have a connection with Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs)—there are no reports regarding unauthorized industries spilling untreated effluents in the river. The committee asked the government of Delhi to initiate a detailed survey to locate such factories and start stricter pollution measures.

Sewage Treatment and Environmental Flow Failure:-
Despite the massive investments under the Namami Gange Programme, domestic sewage continues to find its way into the Yamuna untreated. 22 large drains in the report allow untreated sewage to flow directly into the river, which is an important source of pollution. Delhi still has a sewage treatment deficiency of 1,500 million litres per day (MLD), which means it needs improved wastewater management in a hurry.

Besides, the panel highlighted the lack of attention to the river's environmental flow (E-flow). According to a 1994 agreement, 10 cumecs of water are to be released from the Hathnikund Barrage by Haryana to maintain the ecosystem of the Yamuna river. The panel, however, discovered that the flow is inadequate, with most of the water evaporating or percolating away before it reaches Delhi. The committee asked the Department of Water Resources to initiate measures towards this problem and provide sufficient flow of water so that ecology of the river can be kept safe.
Impact on Aquatic Life and Cremation Pollution
The oxygen deficiency in dissolved form in the Yamuna has caused retardation of aquatic life, and the bodies of dead fish floating on Agra and Mathura's shores. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has been recommended to carry out an overall study of the ecological deterioration due to pollution.

Cremation operations on Yamuna also contribute to pollution. Nigam Bodh Ghat is the sole operational electric crematorium, and the rest of the cremations are done by burning wood, where ash and other waste are let loose into the river. Financial assistance to states for installing more electric and CNG-based crematoriums and shifting existing cremation units away from riverbanks was suggested by the panel.

Urgent Measures Needed for Yamuna's Revival:-
The report of the parliament has brought to light the severe deterioration of Yamuna River due to sewage outfall, industrial effluent, encroachments, and lack of maintenance of flow of water. It demands action at once by various agencies to adopt pollution control measures, recover the riverbed, and enhance the quality of water.

With Delhi’s primary water source at risk, the committee has emphasized the need for stricter regulations, improved waste management, and enhanced coordination between state and central agencies. If urgent action is not taken, the Yamuna’s pollution crisis could have long-term consequences for public health and environmental sustainability.

Source: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources, CPCB, CSIR-NEERI, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)