Yamuna River and its Pollution | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction:

Yamuna River:

• Yamuna, a significant tributary of the Ganges, originates from the Yamunotri glacier near Bandarpoonch peaks in the Mussoorie range of the lower Himalayas. 
• After traversing Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi, it converges with the Ganges at Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. 
• Notable tributaries include Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, and Ken.

Why is Yamuna so polluted?

• The pollution of the Yamuna stems from various sources. 
• The sewage treatment plants in Delhi contribute significantly to pollutant discharge. 
• Industrial discharges from diverse industries, agricultural activities along the riverbanks in Delhi, and the release of agricultural waste and pesticides from Haryana further aggravate the pollution. 
• The low water volume in the river leads to the accumulation of pollutants, elevating pollution levels.

What causes frothing in the Yamuna?

• The phenomenon of frothing in the Yamuna is attributed to the release of untreated or poorly treated effluents, including sewage and industrial waste. 
• Surfactants and phosphates from household and industrial detergents enter the river due to untreated sewage. 
• The river's lean phase, coupled with a lack of water flow, causes pollutants to accumulate, leading to frothing, especially near the Okhla barrage.

Reasons behind the river being more polluted:

• Rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure planning, poor facilities in cities near rivers, and the failure of national conservation programs contribute to the worsening pollution. 
• Sewage and industrial effluents freely flowing into rivers, a deficit in sewage treatment capacity, and lax enforcement of environmental laws further exacerbate the situation.

Government Measures to clean Indian Rivers

• To address river pollution, the government has implemented measures such as the Namami Ganga Programme, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), National River Conservation Plan, and National Water Monitoring Programme (NWMP). 
• The vision for 2030 focuses on clean rivers, safe drinking water for all, sustainable life, and efficient water use in irrigation through micro-irrigation techniques.

Wider challenges:

• Higher biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) at the majority of the stations.
  • BOD is a measure of the oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to biochemically oxidise organic matter. It affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in rivers.
  • The higher the BOD, the lesser the oxygen available to aquatic life.
• Lax monitoring as the data collection and dissemination remains challenging.

Way ahead:

• Challenges include higher biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) affecting aquatic life due to reduced oxygen availability. 
• Lax monitoring poses a challenge, emphasizing the need for effective data collection and dissemination. 
• The way forward involves prioritizing sewage treatment plants, converting waste to wealth through innovative technologies, and ensuring sustainable waste management for a cleaner Yamuna and other rivers in India.