The Delhi government has unveiled a major initiative to rejuvenate the pollution-choked Yamuna River, announcing plans to nearly double the city’s sewage treatment capacity within two years. The move signals a renewed push by the newly elected administration to tackle one of the capital’s most persistent environmental crises.
Led by Water Minister Parvesh Verma, the project includes upgrading 18 of the city’s 37 existing sewage treatment plants, installing new large-scale and decentralized systems, and tightening oversight on key pollution sources like the Najafgarh drain, long identified as a critical hotspot for untreated wastewater discharge.
At a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, officials outlined a 45-point action plan aimed at improving inter-state coordination, expediting infrastructure work, and addressing regulatory gaps. The Yamuna’s condition, particularly in its stretch through Delhi, has worsened over the years due to unchecked urban runoff, inadequate treatment capacity, and fragmented governance.
A significant budgetary allocation backs the initiative, signaling that the BJP-led state government is treating the river cleanup as a top priority. The broader plan also seeks to integrate community participation and sustainable water reuse strategies, essential to long-term success.
As Delhi’s population continues to expand, restoring the Yamuna is not just an ecological imperative but a critical urban challenge. The success of this initiative could offer a blueprint for other polluted rivers across India.