YAMUNA CLEANING PLAN
The River Yamuna
Originating from the Yamunotri glacier in the lower Himalayas, the river Yamuna is one
of the largest tributaries of the Ganges river network. The river travels a total of 1376
kilometers crossing several northern states in India including Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar
Pradesh and later Delhi. In Hindu mythology, the Yamuna is considered the daughter of
Sun God, Surya, and sister of Yama, the God of Death, hence also known as Yami.
According to popular legends, bathing in its sacred waters frees one from the torments of
death. This river has mythological importance as well because of many anecdotes
associated with it and Krishna.
But industrialisation and development has created havoc to this river. When the
population has increased many a folds and shortage of drinking water created upheavals
in Delhi, suddenly government awaken after it became an international issue. Than came
the Yamuna cleaning programme in a line of Ganga Action Plan.
The Yamuna Action Plan (YAP), a bilateral project between the Government of India and
Japan, now in its second phase, is one of the largest river restoration projects in India.
The government of Japan via the [Japanese Bank for International Cooperation](JBIC)
has provided financial aid of Yen 13.33 billion to carry out the project which is being
executed by the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD), Ministry of
Environment and Forests(MOEF), Government of India.
The Delhi Stretch of the Yamuna
With an annual flow of about 10,000 cubic metres and usage of 4,400 cubic meters (of
which irrigation constitutes 96 per cent), the river accounts for more than 70 percent of
Delhi’s water supplies. The water of Yamuna is of "reasonably good quality" through its
length from Yamunotri in the Himalayas to Wazirabad in Delhi, about 375 km, where the
discharge of waste water through 15 drains between Wazirabad barrage and Okhla
barrage renders the river severely polluted after Wazirabad in Delhi. The media generally
describes the river as “dead” and "sewage drain" with biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD) values ranging from 14 to 28 mg/l and high coliform content.
There are three main sources of pollution in the river, namely households and municipal
disposal sites, soil erosion resulting from deforestation occurring to make way for
agriculture along with resulting chemical wash-off from fertilizers, herbicides, and
pesticides and run-off from commercial activity and industrial sites.
Yamuna Action Plan- I
The Yamuna Action Plan Phase-I (YAP-I) project was formulated on the basis of the
study conducted under Special Assistance for Project Formulation (SAPROF) of the
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC), and covered Delhi, 8 towns of U.P.
(Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, Noida,Vrindavan, Mathura, Agra and Etawah)
and 6 towns of Haryana (Yamunanagar- Jagadhri, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Gurgaon,
and Faridabad).
Launched in 1993, the project was originally planned to be completed by April 2000,
which was later extended until February 2003.
The National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) under the Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MOEF), Government Of India were the executing agencies for the Yamuna
Action Plan project with the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (UPJN) in UP, the Public Health
Engineering Department (PHED) in Haryana, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(MCD) in Delhi, being the chief Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs).
The components of infrastructure involved construction of Drain Interceptors, Diversion
Sewer Lines, Sewage Pumping Stations (PS), and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP). 32
STPs were constructed and a total sewage treatment capacity of about 735 MLD was
created.
During the extended phase of YAP-I, more emphasis was given to address various non-
sewerage issues. The strategy for these was formulated under the Special Assistance for
Project Implementation (SAPI) study conducted by JBIC. The Yamuna Action Plan – I
under the aegis of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) did not lay much stress on
public awareness and participation, prevented it from becoming a peoples campaign and
therefore failed to involve the masses in the cleaning of the river. However a public
participation & awareness (PP&A) program was launched to generate awareness among
the beneficiaries in the project area.
The Yamuna Action Plan was unable to address the issue of the Yamuna cleanliness
fully, particularly in the 22 km Delhi stretch. A few new towns in UP were identified that
were adding to the pollution in the river. Hence YAP – II was developed.
Under the Yamuna Action Plan II, the most critical stretches of Yamuna have been taken
in to consideration. The Delhi stretch being the most polluted with the city dumping more
than 58% total sewage generated in it.
Name of scheme (Projects in Delhi Only)
1. Physical Works Implementation a. Okhla STP b. Keshopur STP c. Bela Road Trunk
Sewer d. Wazirabad Road Trunk Sewer e. Ring Road Trunk Sewer
2 Preparation of Master Plan (M/P), Feasibility Study (F/S), Detailed Project Report
(DPR) for YAP-III
a. Decentralized Wastewater Treatment for Water bodies (including Pilot Project) b.
Dairy Farm Waste Management (including Pilot Project) c. Dhobighat Sudhar Yojna
(including Pilot Project) d. Slaughterhouse Modernisation and Waste Management. e.
Antim Niwas Sudhar Yojna (including Pilot Project) f. Slum Rehabilitation Study
3 Public Participation & Awareness (PP&A)
a. Clean Yamuna Manch b. Other PP&A Programme (Socio Economic & Environmental
upgrading Program, School Health & Hygiene Program and Innovative Program)
4 Public Relations (PR)
5 Institutional Strengthening & Capacity Building of MCD
a. Property Tax, Public Participation in solid waste, operation of CTCs etc. b. Usage of
High Resolution Satellite Imagery c. Training of Sugam Kendra Staff
About Yamun Action Plan II (YAP II)
YAP II is one of the important projects, being implemented by U.P Jal Nigam through its
Project offices at Ghaziabad and Agra. It is being implemented in 3 States of the country
(Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh) and within UP, 8 towns viz Agra, Mathura
Vrindavana, Etawah (all under Agra region) Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Noida,
Ghaziabad (under Ghaziabad region) have been selected where river Yamuna passes
through. During the first phase of the programme it came out that the river water
pollution cannot be lowered down without the active participation of the citizens.
Therefore in YAP phase II a special component named as Public Participation &
Awareness component has been brought in wherein NGOs are partnering to work at the
community level on different identified themes. These themes include
Socio–economic up-gradation of the Community Toilet Complexes neighbourhood
As the name suggests, the NGOs involved have to improve the lives and environment of
the community residing in the neighbourhood of the community toilets.
School health and hygiene programme
Wherein school going children have been targeted to sensitise upon the need for
maintaining personal hygiene and sanitation.
Town Specific innovation programme
In this program NGOs are given a flexibility to design and develop a programme specific
to the town requirements and could be one of the most innovative approaches and not
necessarily duplicating the target groups.
Clean Yamuna Manch
It is a forum of NGOs working in Agra city, to work exclusively at the Stakeholders
level, bring the issue into mainstream of media and academia and hold continuous
dialogue. It is one of the pilot programmes to substantiate the efforts of other
programmes of the Agra region.
Existing Scenario
The 22 km stretch of Yamuna in Delhi gets polluted from toxic effluents from factories
and power stations, 17 drains, open defecation, half burnt bodies and carcasses, cattle and
human bathing etc.
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), river water of category E, making
it fit only for recreation and industrial cooling purposes. It is unfit for wildlife, fisheries
and drinking.
Daily sewage generation in Delhi is about 2871 million litres and Sewage treated 1478
million litres. Remaining sewage goes into the Yamuna through the 17 drains. Content of
suspended solids in Yamuna – 1,000-10,000 mg Permissible content of suspended solids
– 100 mg, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) – 15 – 30 mg per litre. Normal BOD
level – 3 mg per litre. Content of Coliform level in Yamuna – 11.8 crore per 100 ml of
water. Permissible content of Coliform level – 5000 per 100 of water Coliforms cause
many serious diseases relating to the digestive system. Dissolved oxygen level in
Yamuna – 0. Normal oxygen level – 4 mg per litre. The dissolved oxygen level is
critically important for water plants and fish. Delhi’s drinking water requirement – 1480
cusecs. Available drinking water – 1221 cusecs. Existing forest cover is about 10.2% of
the total area. Required forest cover is 33% of the total area. Air Pollution, RSPM levels
3 times higher than normal, CO levels are twice the permissible standard.
Existing Scenario of Yamuna Action Plan in Delhi
A. Sewage Treatment: The river was supposed to be cleaned by ensuring no-entry of
untreated sewage. 744 million litres/day (MLD) of sewage was proposed to be
intercepted and treated before it enters the river. Mini and micro sewage treatment plants
(STPs) were envisaged at a cost of Rs 9.81 crore. The 4 mini STPs are functioning at 30-
40% efficiency. The 10 micro STPs are yet to begin operations since they haven’t been
electrified so far.
B. Community Toilet Complexes (CTCs): JBIC gives the Ministry of Environment and
Forests (MoEF) Rs 164 crore to build adequate toilets for Delhiites, especially slum-
dwellers to dissuade open defecation. 1150 CTCs with 30,000 seats were to be built by
MCD. Work began in July 2001 i.e. a year after the project was intercepted. 953 CTCs
with 26,870 seats were constructed near JJ colonies on and along the riverbank at an
estimated cost of Rs149.38 crore. Less than 40% of these toilets have been opened for
public. Also, 40% of the CTCs opened are not connected to sewage lines and empty
directly into the Yamuna, thus defeating the very purpose of the YAP. Furthermore,
17000 of these built seats have no water or power connection and are ill maintained.
9000 odd CTCs are supposed to be operated by private firms, NGOs etc but are shut
instead as they are loss-making proposition for the organization. NGOs over-bidded for
the CTCs in the open auction by the MCD and now the people are not willing to pay Re 1
also, thus forcing the NGOs to keep the CTCs shut. Meanwhile, open spaces are still
being used for urination and defecation, with toilets right outside the colonies, locked.
Many CTCs are constructed arbitrarily without any need-assessment surveys as problems
like unbalanced distribution of toilets, unsuitable location of toilets etc prevail. Toilet
blocks in Delhi: The Central Zone of the MCD has 35, City Zone has 16, Civil Zone has
112, Karol Bagh has 36, Najafgarh has 215, Narela has 8, Rohini has 85, Sadar Paharganj
has 34, Shadara-North has 75, Shadara-South has 40, South Zone has 45 and West Zone
has 50.
C. Mobile Toilet Vans (MTVs). The MCD got 180 MTVs at a cost of Rs 4.10 crore,
which was part of the Rs 149.38 crore used for making 953 CTCs.
D. Iron Grills were put across the Yamuna bridges, prohibiting people from throwing
anything and everything into the river.
E. NGO
A coordinating NGO Accord was given 2.16 crore to create awareness and encourage
slum dwellers to use the CTCs.
Issue
Building toilets to reduce pollution in the river is a baseless solution because the key lies
in intercepting the sewage for treatment. Latest samples of CPCB from Palla (where river
enters Delhi), Nizammudin and Okhla reveal that there has been no change in the quality
of Yamuna water since the past 2 years.
Faults
Some drains that dump wastewater into the Yamuna are not intercepted and so some new
pollution points have come up. Problem areas: Muzaffarnagar, Yamunanagar, Agra and
Faridabad. Installed STPs are functioning inefficiently and erratically, as the wastewater
to be treated does not reach it.Frequent power cuts stall work. CTCs have problems like
not being connected to sewage lines, high charges etc.
Other Plans to Control Pollution in Yamuna
A. Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) .
The Delhi government promised to set up 15 CETPs five years back, only 2 have been
commissioned so far.
B. Anaerobic Sludge-Blanket Reactor.
As an immediate measure to stop pollution in the river this state of the art machine will
be used simultaneously with CETPs. These reactors are successfully operational in
Germany, Columbia, Norway and the Netherlands, checking the contamination.
C. Dredge utility crafts (DUC)
The Delhi Government spent Rs 26 lakh on the DUCs that are best suited to move the
silt in the bed. Each DUC is capable of taking out 180 cum of silt in 6 hours. The silt
brought out will be recycled as manure for cultivation purposes.
D. Clearing Of Yamuna Slums
The Delhi High Court directed the concerned authorities (DDA, MCD, PWD, DJB, and
Central Government) to remove all illegal, unauthorised constructions, including places
of worship on Yamuna bed and its embankment within 2 months from March 2003. The
never-ending drama of illegal encroachment needs to be stopped.
E. Clean Yamuna Drive
Announced by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, volunteers help clean up the riverbed.
MCD participates by helping dump the dirt to the Bhalswa dumping ground.
F. National River Conservation Plan (NRCP)
The NRCP covers 157 towns and 31 stretches of polluted rivers in 18 States. Approved
cost of the project – Rs 4064 crores, of which the Centre’s share is 3464 crore. 763
projects worth Rs 2640 crores have been sanctioned under the plan, of which 338 have
been completed.
Objective:
To maintain the quality of the water of the major rivers through the implementation of
various pollution abatement schemes. The river-cleansing programme was started with
the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985 to GAP-II in 1995 before being merged into the
NRCP in 1996. Governing Body: National River Conservation Authority (NRCA)
Target: to clean all major rivers by 2007 and others by 2012.
Budget:
Rs 1417 crores approved under the Tenth Plan to be revised to Rs 1825 crore later.
Issues
The authorised construction of the Akshardham Temple on Yamuna’s riverbed in Delhi,
when the Delhi High Court wants the clearing of the river bed in 2 months.
The age-old custom of throwing sacred things into the river Yamuna cannot be suddenly
stopped in a country that boasts of its rich cultural heritage and customs.
Outcome of Yamuna Action Plan
Haryana fares better than U.P. as infrastructure work has been completed and is working
well, with plants having insufficient sewage to treat. Treated effluents are discarded into
drains or canals and biogas utilization is poor. In both states improved wood-based
crematoria haven’t taken off which were intended to reduce the wood use and time taken
by half. In Delhi, the plan’s outcome is yet invisible, even after so much money has gone
into it. The feasibility study of the project has played a very negligible role in the whole
operation. Due to this, the project defies the very role it was meant to play.
1. Project Management Consultants for Yamuna Action Plan Phase II.
2. Wikipedia Yamuna Article.
3. http://[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamuna Wikipedia Article on Yamuna].
4. [www.pmc4yap2.com/downloads/yap2-vision-document.pdf Website of official
consultants with Delhi Government]
5. WWF-India as an ENVIS Centre/Node.
