Shockingly High Expenditure Yet YAMUNA Pollution Persists: Over ₹5,500 Crore Spent in 3 Years

Despite heavy spending on cleaning efforts, the Yamuna River in Delhi continues to face severe pollution. The central government informed Parliament that the main reasons behind the river’s deteriorating condition include untreated sewage discharge, delays in treatment plant projects, and insufficient waste recycling capacity.

Delhi Jal Board Spends Over ₹5,500 Crore

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has spent ₹5,536 crore over the past three years on Yamuna cleaning initiatives, but significant improvement remains elusive. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Water Resources, Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, stated that as of August 2025, 414 MLD (million liters per day) of sewage in Delhi remained untreated.

Growing Waste and Recycling Gap

The Minister highlighted that Delhi generates 11,862 tons of solid waste daily, while recycling capacity handles only 7,641 tons per day. Consequently, 4,221 tons of waste go unprocessed and enter the Yamuna, exacerbating pollution. Many approved industrial areas lack shared Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), and projects aimed at treating and upgrading sewage infrastructure have faced persistent delays.

Interceptor Sewer Project Yet to Yield Results

The DJB’s interceptor sewer project, aimed at preventing residential, commercial, and industrial wastewater from entering the Yamuna, has been completed. However, the river’s condition shows little improvement. The Yamuna Monitoring Committee noted in its report that until the Rithala and Kodli sewage treatment plants are fully upgraded, the river cannot be restored. The project was intended to intercept 1,100.86 MGD of wastewater.

Plans Initiated in 2010-12

The interceptor project plan, developed during 2010-12, included laying sewer lines along Najafgarh Drain, Supplementary Drain, and Shahdara Drain to prevent untreated sewage from entering the river. The total project cost was ₹3,105 crore, of which ₹800 crore was provided by the central government.

Despite significant investment and infrastructure efforts, the persistent pollution highlights the urgent need for faster project completion, enhanced treatment capacity, and efficient waste management to restore the Yamuna.