In a fresh effort to restore the Yamuna River to its pristine condition, the Delhi government has stepped up measures to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial waste into the river, while also focusing on flood management and removal of encroachments along the Yamuna floodplains.
Earlier this week, Delhi Water Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh convened a high-level meeting with Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa to review the progress of Yamuna cleaning initiatives and evaluate the functioning of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), which are responsible for treating industrial wastewater before it is released into the river.
After the meeting, Pravesh Sahib Singh said the Delhi government has put in place a focused and coordinated strategy to rejuvenate the Yamuna, which has been battling pollution for several years. He underlined that industrial discharge remains one of the key contributors to the river’s contamination, making the efficient functioning of CETPs essential for any meaningful revival effort.
The minister said detailed discussions were held on improving the capacity and monitoring mechanisms of CETPs to ensure that industrial effluents are properly treated. “If CETPs operate efficiently, there is a real possibility of reviving the Yamuna. The government is working swiftly in this direction,” he stated.
As part of a broader cleanup plan, the government is implementing projects worth hundreds of crores aimed at strengthening sewage treatment infrastructure. The plan includes setting up new Decentralized Sewage Treatment Plants (DSTPs) and modernising existing facilities.
According to officials, these DSTPs will be installed along major drains so that sewage can be treated at the source itself, thereby preventing untreated wastewater from entering the Yamuna. The government has also deployed advanced equipment for the cleaning and rejuvenation of the Sahibi River, popularly known as the Najafgarh Drain, which is regarded as one of the major sources of pollution in the Yamuna.
At the same time, the Delhi government has begun taking preventive measures to tackle flooding in vulnerable low-lying areas along the river. Authorities have issued eviction notices to residents of Yamuna Bazar Colony near Nigam Bodh Ghat, asking them to vacate the area within 15 days.
The locality has been classified as “Flood Zone O,” indicating a high risk of flooding during periods of increased water levels in the Yamuna. Officials said nearly 310 families living in the colony will be shifted. The government also maintained that the land belongs to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and had been illegally encroached upon.
Yamuna Bazar was among the worst-hit areas during last year’s floods in the national capital, when rising river levels inundated large portions of the locality and forced residents to leave their homes temporarily.
During the floods, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had visited the affected area to review the situation and interact with residents. She spent nearly thirty minutes walking through the narrow lanes of Yamuna Bazar to understand the challenges faced by locals.
Addressing the media after the inspection, the Chief Minister had said the situation remained under control.
“The water is passing through continuously and there is no stagnation. This is the lowest-lying region of the capital and falls within the Yamuna floodplain where houses have been built. I expect the water level to recede within a day or two,” she had remarked.
