February 16 || TC – During the Delhi Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power, the Yamuna River would be cleaned. Staying true to that commitment, the cleanup work has already begun, even before the formal establishment of the new government. On Sunday, in the heart of the national capital, advanced machines such as trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredging utility crafts were deployed to initiate the cleaning process.
Cleanup Work Begins Under Lieutenant Governor’s Supervision
Prior to this, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena held discussions with the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary (Irrigation and Flood Control) on Saturday, directing them to begin the river-cleaning operations without delay.
The L-G’s office later released footage of the cleanup activities, confirming that the initiative had commenced. Specialized machinery, including skimmers and dredging equipment, is being used to clear the river of accumulated waste, unwanted vegetation, and debris.
A Four-Step Approach to Restoring Yamuna’s Purity
A structured, four-phase plan has been devised to rejuvenate the Yamuna River.
1. Removal of Waste and Sediment – Accumulated garbage, sludge, and pollutants present in the river will be systematically extracted.
2. Drain Cleaning – The Najafgarh drain, supplementary drains, and other key water channels will be cleared to prevent further contamination.
3. Upgrading Sewage Treatment – A daily review will be conducted to assess the performance of existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and ensure their optimal functionality.
4. New Infrastructure Development – A well-defined timeline will be set for the establishment of additional STPs and Decentralized Sewage Treatment Plants (DSTPs) to bridge the existing gap of approximately 400 million gallons per day (MGD) of untreated wastewater.
Multi-Agency Coordination and Pollution Control Measures
The success of this large-scale project hinges on seamless coordination among multiple government bodies, including the Delhi Jal Board, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Delhi Municipal Corporation, Environment Department, Public Works Department (PWD), and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). High-level monitoring of these efforts will be conducted on a weekly basis.
To further strengthen the initiative, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee has been tasked with ensuring that industries within the city do not release untreated wastewater into drainage systems. This directive is a crucial part of efforts to revive the Yamuna, enhance its water quality, and mitigate pollution.
Background: Previous Challenges and Legal Hurdles
The mission to restore the Yamuna was initially launched in January 2023 when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) constituted a high-powered committee under L-G Saxena’s leadership to oversee anti-pollution measures and implement cleanup strategies. As part of these efforts, strict regulations were imposed on industrial units, barring them from releasing contaminated water into the river.
However, following five review meetings by the committee, the then Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, led by Arvind Kejriwal, moved the Supreme Court, contesting the NGT’s decision to appoint the L-G as the head of the high-level committee on Yamuna pollution. In response, then-Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud issued a stay on the NGT’s directive. This legal intervention brought the cleanup operations to a halt.
With the pause in restoration efforts, the minor improvements previously observed in the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels of the river reversed, leading to record-high pollution levels earlier this year.
Now, with renewed political will and direct intervention, the long-overdue cleanup of the Yamuna has resumed, aligning with the BJP’s electoral promise to restore the river’s health and purity.