Yamuna in Delhi highly polluted and virtually dead, says Parliamentary board
A parliamentary panel has expressed grave concerns over the alarming levels of pollution in the Yamuna River, particularly the stretch passing through Delhi, describing it as severely contaminated and practically lifeless. The findings underscore the urgent need for remedial action to restore the health of the river, which serves as a crucial water source for millions of people.
According to the panel’s report, out of the 33 designated sites monitored for water quality, 23 locations, including six in the national capital, failed to meet the fundamental water-quality benchmarks. The committee undertook a comprehensive review of river-cleaning initiatives along the upper Yamuna, assessing projects from its origin in the Himalayas to its course through Delhi, as well as riverbed management within the city.
The study categorized the river into three distinct sections based on pollution levels. The first segment, from its source at Yamunotri to the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana, remains largely unpolluted due to minimal human interference and industrial activity. The second section, from Hathnikund to Palla, exhibits moderate pollution levels, primarily due to increasing urban settlements, agricultural runoff, and limited wastewater discharge. The third and most critical stretch extends from Palla to Okhla within Delhi, where pollution levels are at their peak, rendering the river severely degraded and unfit for any form of human use, including bathing.
The 40-kilometer stretch of the Yamuna flowing through Delhi, from Palla at the Haryana border to Asgarpur in Uttar Pradesh, is in a highly deteriorated state. The panel’s assessment confirmed that the water in this segment of the river does not meet the required quality standards for bathing or other recreational activities, highlighting the severity of contamination.
The committee referred to an extensive study on the water quality of the Yamuna, which emphasized the need for a coordinated and immediate response from all relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, environmental organizations, and local authorities, to curb pollution and initiate restorative measures. The study, conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in collaboration with state pollution control boards, was carried out over an extended period from January 2021 to May 2023. Water samples were collected and analyzed from 33 sites along the river’s course.
The water-quality assessment was based on four key parameters: dissolved oxygen (DO), pH levels, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and fecal coliform count. The results revealed stark regional variations in pollution levels. In the upstream regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, four monitored sites in each state met the prescribed water-quality standards, indicating relatively clean water conditions. However, the situation deteriorated significantly in Haryana, where all six tested sites failed to meet the required benchmarks. In Delhi, six monitoring locations also fell short of the minimum standards, although the site at Palla showed some improvement, offering a glimmer of hope for potential restoration efforts.
The issue of Yamuna pollution has been a subject of intense political debate, particularly during recent Assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aggressively criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government for its inability to implement effective pollution-control measures and fulfill promises of cleaning the river. In response, the AAP shifted the blame onto the Haryana government, accusing it of contributing significantly to the pollution by releasing untreated wastewater and industrial effluents into the river before it reaches Delhi.
With pollution levels continuing to rise, environmentalists and concerned citizens are urging immediate intervention, including stricter enforcement of pollution-control laws, expansion of sewage treatment infrastructure, and enhanced coordination between state and central authorities. The panel’s findings serve as yet another wake-up call for policymakers to address the ecological crisis facing the Yamuna and implement sustainable measures to ensure its long-term revival.
