Reviving the Yamuna: A Comprehensive Cleanup Plan
Introduction
The Delhi government has launched a new plan to clean and revitalize the Yamuna River. This initiative involves actions in Delhi and neighboring states, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The main goals are to improve the river’s flow and manage waste better.
Main Initiatives
Boosting Water Flow
The Uttar Pradesh government will release more water into the Yamuna. This will happen through the Okhla sewage treatment plant. The water will come from the Yamuna Canal, downstream of the Okhla Barrage. This project should be done by February 2026.
Managing Drains
In Agra, the UP Jal Nigam will tap 43 drains by May 2027. Also, 500 cusecs of water will be diverted from the Upper Ganga Canal to the Yamuna using existing infrastructure.
Delhi’s Action Plan
Analyzing and Managing Sewerage
The Delhi Jal Board will conduct a gap analysis. They will survey each drain and sewerage zone. A detailed evaluation and project reports will be ready by December.
Improving Sewage Treatment Plants
The Central Pollution Control Board will inspect current sewage treatment plants and outfalls by July. This is to find any operational issues. Plans to install house-to-house sewer connections should be done by the end of the year.
Who Manages the Drains?
Different agencies have clear responsibilities for drain management:
- The irrigation and flood control department will maintain drains, clear encroachments, and desilt.
- The Delhi Jal Board will manage discharge from untreated sewer lines and some direct treated water.
- The Public Works Department is responsible for stormwater drainage.
- The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will handle solid waste, stormwater from colonies, and silt discharged by private agents.
Improving Environmental Flow and Waste Management
Discharging Treated Water
A trial will ensure all treated water goes into the Yamuna through closed ducts, not open drains. This aims to improve the river’s environmental flow.
Handling Industrial and Dairy Waste
Delhi has 13 common effluent treatment plants for 17 industrial areas. But 27 non-notified industrial areas lack such facilities. The Delhi government will prepare a plan to address this gap by December.
Third-party institutions will monitor industrial activity in non-conforming areas of Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Gurgaon, Bahadurgarh, and Sonipat. The National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Central Pollution Control Board will supervise this.
Managing Septage and Dairy Waste
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will either establish biogas plants for dairies or arrange for their closure by June 2027. Options for managing sludge from sewage treatment plants will be explored by August 2027.
Project Costs
The estimated expenditure on this project over the next three years is Rs 10,087 crore. Here’s the breakdown:
- Rs 1,400 crore for drain management
- Rs 120 crore for solid waste management
- Rs 600 crore for septage and dairy waste management
- Rs 3,515 crore for sewerage management
- Rs 2,000 crore for additional sewage treatment capacity
- Rs 1,000 crore for improving environmental flow and drinking water supply
- Rs 1,100 crore for floodplain conservation and riverfront development
- Rs 225 crore for public outreach
- Rs 127 crore for miscellaneous expenses
