Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan | Gist of Rajya Sabha TV / RSTV (now Sansad TV) - UPSC PDF Download

Why is it in the news?

•  The Yamuna River, an important water source and a major tributary of the Ganga, is facing severe pollution, which makes it one of the most contaminated rivers globally. 
•  A report from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on water resources has indicated that the Yamuna River is "virtually non-existent" in Delhi due to this extreme pollution. 

What are the Important Facts About the Yamuna River? 

About: The Yamuna River is a major tributary of the Ganges in Northern India and is part of the Yamuna-Ganga Plain, one of the largest alluvial plains in the world. 

Source: The river originates from the Yamunotri Glacier at an altitude of 6,387 meters in the lower Himalayan ranges. 

Basin: After flowing through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi, the Yamuna meets the Ganges at the Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. 

• Important Dams: Some notable dams on the Yamuna include the Lakhwar-Vyasi Dam in Uttarakhand and the Tajewala Barrage Dam in Haryana. 

• Important Tributaries: The Yamuna River is joined by several important tributaries, including the Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, and Ken rivers. 

• Yamuna’s Critical Polluted Stretch: In Delhi, the Yamuna River stretches for 48 km, but the most polluted section is 22 km long, from Wazirabad to Okhla barrage. This polluted stretch, although only 2% of the river's total length, suffers from severe pollution issues. 

• Current State of Yamuna’s Water Quality:Elevated Pollution Indicators: The water in the Yamuna shows high levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Fecal Coliform (FC), indicating serious organic and microbial pollution. Dissolved Solids and Heavy Metals: The presence of toxic heavy metals and high levels of dissolved solids poses risks to aquatic life and human health, creating a significant ecological threat. 

• Water Quality Assessments: Between January 2021 and May 2023, assessments by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) found that 23 out of 33 locations along the Yamuna River, including areas in Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, were unsuitable for bathing. 

• Related Government Initiatives: Several government initiatives aim to address the pollution in the Yamuna, including the Yamuna Action Plan, the Namami Gange Programme, and the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). 

• CPCB’s Bathing Water Quality Criteria: The CPCB sets specific criteria for bathing water quality, including a Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level of 5 mg/l or more, a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of 3 mg/l or less, and a Faecal Coliform level of less than 2,500 MPN/100 ml. 

What are the Sources of Yamuna River Pollution?  

• Domestic Sewage: Many unauthorized colonies lack proper sewage systems, leading to a significant amount of untreated or partially treated sewage entering the river, particularly in Delhi. This results in high levels of organic and chemical pollutants. 
• Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs): Delhi has 38 STPs, but many of them struggle to operate efficiently and fail to meet pollution control standards. As a consequence, untreated or partially treated sewage is discharged into the Yamuna River. 
• Industrial Waste: Industries located along the Yamuna, especially in Sonipat, Panipat, and Delhi, discharge hazardous chemicals, heavy metals such as lead, copper, zinc, and chromium, and toxic effluents into the river. 
• Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs): Approximately 30 CETPs are intended to treat industrial wastewater from various units. However, many of these plants operate below their capacity or fail to effectively remove hazardous pollutants, allowing industrial effluents to contaminate the river. 
• Agricultural Runoff: Pesticides, fertilizers, and other agrochemicals from farmlands wash into the river, increasing nutrient levels and causing a process known as eutrophication. 
• Solid Waste and Plastic Pollution: The dumping of household waste, plastics, and debris directly into the river clogs water flow and degrades water quality. 
• Reduced Freshwater Flow: Excessive water extraction for irrigation and drinking purposes, along with the diversion of water at barrages like Wazirabad, reduces the river's capacity to dilute pollutants, leading to more concentrated contamination. 

What Measures can be Taken to Reduce Yamuna River Pollution? 

Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) Management

•  Upgrade and expand existing STPs to enhance treatment capacity and effectiveness. 
•  Ensure all wastewater is treated before discharge with stricter monitoring. 
•  Implement decentralized STPs or micro-STPs (1 MLD or less) to prevent direct sewage discharge into the Yamuna River from unauthorized colonies. 

Industrial Effluent Management

•  Strengthen regulations for Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs). 
•  Enforce strict compliance and penalize industries discharging untreated waste. 

Freshwater Flow Restoration

•  Ensure adequate freshwater release from upstream sources to improve dilution capacity. 
•  Maintain ecological balance in the river. 

Solid Waste and Plastic Management

•  Prevent dumping of garbage, plastics, and debris into the river through stricter waste disposal regulations. 
•  Raise awareness about proper waste disposal practices. 

Agricultural Runoff Control

•  Promote eco-friendly farming practices, such as using organic fertilizers and reducing pesticide use. 
•  Minimize chemical runoff into the river from agricultural activities. 

Riverbed Dredging and Cleaning

•  Implement periodic dredging to remove accumulated silt, sludge, and heavy metal deposits from the riverbed. 

Water Recycling and Reuse

•  Encourage the use of treated wastewater for non-drinking purposes such as irrigation, landscaping, and industrial cooling. 
•  Reduce dependency on freshwater resources. 

Conclusion 

Pollution in the Yamuna River

•  The pollution levels in the Yamuna River are very high, which is a serious danger to human health and the health of aquatic ecosystems. 
•  To tackle this problem, we need a comprehensive approach that includes: 
• Efficient sewage treatment
• Strict industrial waste management
• Sustainable agricultural practices
•  Restoring freshwater flow and promoting water recycling are also important for improving water quality. 
•  It is crucial for government agencies, industries, and citizens to work together to revive the Yamuna River and ensure its ecological sustainability.