At the core of this plan is a comprehensive four-stage strategy. The initial phase involves the removal of trash, garbage, and silt from the riverbed.
NEW DELHI: As promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the initiative to clean the Yamuna commenced even before the newly elected government in Delhi took the oath of office. Earlier this week, The Sunday Guardian observed the deployment of heavy machinery such as DUC near the Signature Bridge, which is set to move toward Vasudev Ghat. Additionally, a trash skimmer has begun operations at Vasudev Ghat, while a weed harvester has been deployed near the Signature Bridge. Another weed harvester has also started functioning at ITO in the Yamuna, marking the beginning of the river-cleaning process as per the directives of senior officials.
Significantly, the BJP had contested the 2025 elections with the promise of rejuvenating the Yamuna, pledging to clean the river if elected. During his campaign, Modi criticised the AAP government for failing to address the pollution in the Yamuna and assured the public of his commitment to restoring the river’s sanctity.
Following the election victory, Modi, speaking at the BJP’s celebration event, reaffirmed his commitment, stating, “I pledged during the election campaign that we will make Yamuna the identity of Delhi. I know this work is difficult and will take a long time. No matter how much time is spent or how much energy is used, we will make every effort to serve the Yamuna.”
Just days after the Prime Minister’s address, the clean-up operations have gained momentum with a target deadline of 2027. Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has also introduced a “four-pronged strategy” to restore the Yamuna within city limits. The clean-up drive, which involves deploying trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility crafts, is already underway. Furthermore, Saxena has convened meetings with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials to discuss the river rejuvenation plan.
At the core of this plan is a comprehensive four-stage strategy. The initial phase involves the removal of trash, garbage, and silt from the riverbed, followed by simultaneous cleaning of the Najafgarh drain, supplementary drain, and other major drainage systems.
In the third stage, authorities will closely monitor the performance of existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in terms of their capacity and output. The final stage will focus on the construction and operationalisation of new STPs and Decentralized Sewage Treatment Plants (DSTPs) to address the shortfall in treating approximately 400 MGD of sewage.
Delhi Chief Secretary Navin Kumar Chaudhary stated that the Delhi government is committed to executing this ambitious plan within three years. He emphasised that effective coordination among multiple agencies, including the DJB, I&FC, MCD, Environment Department, PWD, and DDA, will be crucial for achieving the goal.
He reiterated, “As per the directions from the highest level, we will clean the Yamuna within the next three years before 2027. The work will be carried out in three to four steps, beginning with the removal of solid waste from the riverbed. That process is progressing well. Additionally, we will repair all STPs and ensure that no untreated chemicals are discharged into the Yamuna.”
To ensure the success of this initiative, the monitoring of these efforts will take place at the highest levels on a weekly basis. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been instructed to maintain strict vigilance on industrial units to prevent the discharge of untreated effluents into the city’s drainage system.
Environmental expert Nutan Manmohan informed The Sunday Guardian that approximately 28 to 30 major drains directly release untreated wastewater into the Yamuna, with the Najafgarh and Barapullah drains being the largest contributors. Numerous smaller drains also flow into these, further exacerbating pollution levels. She emphasised that addressing this issue is critical for Yamuna’s revival, urging the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to actively work on preventing sewage from entering storm drains and ensuring the completion of this task within the designated timeframe.
Manmohan further stressed that efforts to clean the Yamuna would be futile unless all 38 STPs are equipped with tamper-proof electric meters to accurately track power consumption and water treatment levels. Without this, raw sewage will continue to flow into the river unchecked. She pointed out that many STPs and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) are falsifying water quality data. To maintain transparency, she suggested installing sensors at discharge points, with real-time data displayed on large boards and streamed live to the Chief Secretary’s office, DJB, and CPCB.
Another environmentalist highlighted that a similar rejuvenation initiative for the Yamuna had been launched in January 2023 under a mission mode. At that time, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had formed a High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by V.K. Saxena. However, after five months of monitoring and clean-up efforts, the
AAP government, led by Arvind Kejriwal, approached the Supreme Court and secured a stay on the NGT order from then Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on July 10, 2023. Consequently, the rejuvenation efforts came to a standstill, and pollution levels, which had initially shown signs of improvement, worsened drastically by early 2024.
With the new government now in power, it is encouraging to see that the Yamuna clean-up efforts have resumed with renewed determination. Citizens remain hopeful that the BJP-led government will fulfill its promises and soon make the river Yamuna froth-free.