According top priority to rejuvenate river Yamuna and tackle pollution in it, Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday directed Delhi Government to release treated water from Okhla into downstream of Yamuna to improve the water quality of the river. He also called for increasing the capacity of sewage treatment plants and improve the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the main drains of Najafgarh and Shahdara and drone survey of these two main drains.
The Home Minister led a high-level review meeting on Friday to discuss measures to combat the rising pollution levels in the river. The discussion focused on coordinated efforts and action plans to restore and rejuvenate the Yamuna River, which is considered critical to the environmental and public health of Delhi.
The meeting was attended by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Delhi Chief Secretary Dharmendra were also present in the meeting with senior officials of the Ministries of Home Affairs, Jal Shakti and the Delhi Government. The discussion focused on coordinated efforts and action plans to restore and rejuvenate the Yamuna River, which is considered critical to the environmental and public health of Delhi.
Shah underscored the need for the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to adopt an action-oriented approach to manage water pollution effectively. He called for the Delhi Government to implement consistent and impactful strategies to address pollution from industrial sources.
Shah highlighted that pollution is not solely a local issue; waste from neighbouring States is also contributing to the degradation of the Yamuna. He urged collaboration among Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh to tackle the pollution collectively. The Home Minister said that apart from Delhi, chemicals are also coming into the Yamuna River through waste from other States, so all these States should work together to clean the river Yamuna.
The meeting emphasised the importance of improving the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the main drains, particularly Najafgarh and Shahdara. To achieve this, Shah proposed conducting drone surveys to gather data on the drains’ conditions. He said that apart from the efforts being made by the Delhi Government to clean the rivers, there is a need to increase the budget of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
At the meeting, Shah laid special emphasis on cleaning the Yamuna as well as increasing the capacity of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). He directed to increase the STP capacity to 1500 MGD by 2028.
Shah said that all three States, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, should make efforts for Yamuna’s rejuvenation and there should be regularity and transparency in testing of the water flowing out of their STPs.
He emphasized on third party quality testing of STP outflow.
The Home Minister said that there are many reservoirs in Delhi in which the Delhi Government should make arrangements to collect rainwater. He said that developing these reservoirs will also promote tourism.
He said that the Delhi Government should work in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to manage the waste produced by dairies and cow shelters. Shah stressed on managing the unauthorized dairies in the national capital.
At the meeting Shah laid special emphasis on increasing the e-flow in Yamuna and said that there is a need to talk to the Uttar Pradesh Government on this issue and find a solution so that the flow of Yamuna can be improved at the time of its entry into Delhi. He said that the treated water of Okhla STP should be released downstream of Yamuna which will help in improving the quality of the river water.
The Home Minister directed that a detailed survey should be conducted regarding water supply in Delhi, so that it can be ascertained how much water is required to be supplied for catering one and all living in Delhi. Uncontrolled water extraction through borewells is a big problem in Delhi, on which the Delhi Jal Board needs to work by making an action plan. He said that these borewells should be regularized in a phased manner.
Earlier, the Delhi Government has rolled out a 45-point action plan aimed at enhancing the capital’s water infrastructure, upgrading sewerage networks, increasing transparency in tanker services, and rejuvenating the heavily polluted Yamuna River. The 45-point action plan covers drain treatment, treated water inflow into the river, solid and sewage waste management, septage and dairy waste disposal, riverfront development, stormwater planning, enforcement mechanisms, and public engagement. The comprehensive plan, backed by a budget of Rs 9,000 crore, is targeted for completion by next year. According to the statement, 303 drainage projects worth Rs 8,000 crore are currently underway. These include de-silting works, permanent waterlogging solutions, pump house upgrades, and expansion of the stormwater network. The departments have been instructed to ensure timely and quality completion.