Executive Summary:
This document provides the Ministry of Jal Shakti's response to questions regarding the progress of Yamuna River cleaning efforts in the Delhi-NCR region, as of July 31, 2025. It details the water quality monitoring, sewage and effluent management, infrastructure projects, fund allocation, and enforcement actions undertaken to improve the river's condition. It also includes data from January 2025 onwards.
Key Points / Main Content:
Water Quality Monitoring:
* The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors water quality monthly at Palla, Nizamuddin Bridge, and Okhla Barrage, tracking parameters like BOD, DO, and Faecal Coliform.
* Water quality data for January-June 2025 is provided in Annexure I, showing parameter values at different locations.
Sewage and Effluent Management:
* Delhi generates approximately 3,596 MLD of sewage.
* The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has 37 operational STPs with a total capacity of 3,474 MLD.
* As of June 2025, the STPs utilized 2,955 MLD, with 2,014 MLD complying with DPCC discharge standards.
* Approximately 641 MLD of untreated sewage enters the river or drainage network.
* CPCB conducts annual inspections of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs).
* In 2024, inspections of 189 GPIs estimated 1.33 MLD of treated wastewater discharge, with 49 GPIs found non-compliant and issued directions by SPCBs/PCCs.
Infrastructure Projects:
* Under the Namami Gange Programme, 9 sewerage treatment projects have been completed, creating 1,268 MLD of treatment capacity at a cost of ₹1,951 crores (listed in Annexure II).
Financial Information:
* ₹140 crores have been allocated by NMCG and the Government of NCT of Delhi since January 2025.
* ₹108.31 crores have been utilized.
Timeline and Accountability:
* Cleaning the river is an ongoing process with continuous monitoring at multiple levels to ensure timely completion of projects.
* The Ministry supplements state efforts by providing financial assistance.
Impact Analysis:
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
* Impact: Responsible for monthly water quality monitoring and annual inspections of GPIs.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring and inspection activities, ensuring data accuracy and compliance enforcement.
Delhi Jal Board (DJB):
* Impact: Manages sewage treatment plants and is responsible for reducing untreated sewage discharge.
* Action Required: Increase STP capacity utilization, ensure compliance with DPCC discharge standards, and address the 641 MLD of untreated sewage.
Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs):
* Impact: Subject to inspections and must comply with discharge norms.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with discharge norms and valid operating consents; address non-compliance issues identified during inspections.
State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs):
* Impact: Responsible for issuing directions, show-cause notices, and closure directives to non-complying GPIs.
* Action Required: Enforce compliance through issued directives and monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Government of NCT of Delhi:
* Impact: Provide funding for Yamuna cleaning initiatives.
* Action Required: Continue funding allocation and monitor fund utilization to ensure effective project implementation.
States of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh:
* Impact: Beneficiaries of financial assistance for river rejuvenation projects.
* Action Required: Utilize funds effectively for project planning, construction, and completion; ensure projects contribute to reducing pollution levels.
Key Entities Referenced
Yamuna River: A major river in India that is the subject of cleaning and rejuvenation efforts.
Delhi: The National Capital Territory of Delhi, a key region where Yamuna River pollution is being addressed.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): The central agency monitoring the water quality of the Yamuna River under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP).
Delhi Jal Board (DJB): The Delhi Jal Board, responsible for sewage treatment and providing data on sewage generation and treatment in Delhi.
Namami Gange Programme (NGP): A program for the rejuvenation of the River Yamuna, under which sewerage treatment projects have been sanctioned.
National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP): A program under which the water quality of the Yamuna River is being monitored.
Palla, Delhi: A location along the Yamuna River in Delhi where water quality is monitored.
Okhla Barrage, Delhi: A location along the Yamuna River in Delhi where water quality is monitored.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1949
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
PROGRESS IN CLEANING OF YAMUNA RIVER
1949. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the water quality status of the Yamuna river in the Delhi-NCR stretch at Palla, Nizamuddin
Bridge and Okhla Barrage has been recorded each month since January, 2025 and if so, the details
thereof along with the ways in which these values compare with the baseline standards for bathing
water;
(b) the monthly volume of untreated domestic sewage and industrial effluent entering the river since
January, 2025 and the reduction achieved till date;
(c) the details of sewerage-infrastructure works completed, under construction or pending along with
their capacities and scheduled commissioning dates;
(d) the total funds sanctioned, released and utilised under Yamuna Action Plan components since
January, 2025;
(e) whether any penalties have been imposed on agencies or industries for non-compliance with
discharge norms and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the timeline fixed for achieving Class-B bathing standards in the Delhi stretch of the Yamuna and
the monitoring adopted to enforce accountability?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) The water quality of the Yamuna River at Palla, Nizamuddin Bridge, and Okhla Barrage in Delhi is
being monitored monthly by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the National Water
Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). Since January 2025, data for parameters such as BOD, DO,
and Faecal Coliform (FC) are enclosed in Annexure I.
(b) & (e) As per the information provided by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the estimated sewage
generation in Delhi is 3,596 million litres per day (MLD). The total installed capacity of 37 operational
sewage treatment plants (STPs) of DJB is 3,474 MLD. As of June 2025, the capacity utilization of these
STPs was 2,955 MLD of which 2,014 MLD of treated sewage from 23 STPs complied with the
discharge standards prescribed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and 14 STPs are non-
1compliant to DPCC norms. Further, about 641 MLD of sewage remains untreated and enters the river or
drainage network, contributing to pollution in the Yamuna.
Further, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) conducts annual inspections of Grossly
Polluting Industries (GPIs) operating in the Yamuna River basin in NCT-Delhi, which have the potential
to discharge into the Yamuna and its tributaries. These inspections are carried out by joint teams
comprising officials from technical institutes such as IITs, NITs, and the Delhi Pollution Control
Committee (DPCC)/State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs).
During the last inspection conducted by CPCB in 2024, a total of 189 GPIs located along the main
stem of the Yamuna River were inspected. It was estimated that these GPIs discharge approximately
1.33 MLD of treated wastewater, carrying a pollution load of 0.046 TPD in terms of BOD.
Out of the 189 GPIs inspected, 158 were found operational, while 31 were self-closed. Among the
158 operational GPIs, 49 were found non-complying with respect to discharge norms or lacked valid
consent to operate. These 49 non-complying GPIs were issued directions by the concerned
SPCBs/PCCs, including 40 show-cause notices and 9 closure directions.
(c) Under the Namami Gange Programme(NGP) for the rejuvenation of River Yamuna, 9 projects
have been sanctioned for the creation of a sewerage treatment capacity of 1,268 MLD at a cost of ₹
1,951 crores. All of these projects have been completed. The list of projects is enclosed in Annexure II.
(d) The total funds of ₹ 140 crores have been allocated by NMCG and the Government of NCT of
Delhi for Yamuna cleaning since January, 2025; Out of which ₹ 108.31 crores have been utilized.
(f) The cleaning of river is an ongoing process and this Ministry is supplementing the efforts of the
States for checking the rising level of pollution of river Yamuna by providing financial assistance to
States of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi besides Uttar Pradesh. The various projects aimed at
rejuvenation of river Yamuna are in different stages of planning/construction/ completion and close
monitoring is being done at multiple levels to ensure timely completion.
***
2ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1949
TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 31.07.2024 REGARDING “PROGRESS IN CLEANING
OF YAMUNA RIVER”.
Water quality data of river Yamuna monitored under NWMP in Delhi in 2025 is given in the table
below:
Name of Dissolved
Sampling BOD Fecal Coliform
S.No monitoring Oxygen pH
Month (mg/L) (MPN/100ml)
location (mg/L)
6.5- < 3
Primary Water Quality Criteria > 5mg/L < 2500 MPN/ 100 ml
8.5 mg/L
Jan 6 7.23 3 950
RIVER Feb 6 7.42 6 1300
1 YAMUNA AT Apr 5.4 7.9 4 2200
PALLA, DELHI May 9.8 8.4 4 1700
Jun 9.2 8.42 5 2100
Jan 0.3(BDL) 7.46 39 460000
RIVER Feb 0.3(BDL) 7.28 52 540000
YAMUNA AT Mar 7.8 48 NA
2
NIZAMUDDIN, Apr 0.3(BDL) 7.2 38 79000
DELHI May 0.3(BDL) 6.9 37 240000
Jun 0.3(BDL) 7.53 40 790000
Jan 0.3(BDL) 7.11 50 410000
RIVER Feb 0.3(BDL) 7.49 39 920000
YAMUNA AT Mar 7.4 50 140000
3
OKHLA Apr 0.3(BDL) 7.4 46 130000
BARRAGE D/S May 0.3(BDL) 7 23 330000
Jun 0.3(BDL) 7.52 30 110000
RIVER Jan 0.3(BDL) 7.74 64 7900000
YAMUNA AT Feb 0.3(BDL) 7.3 72 16000000
ASGARPUR
Mar 0.3(BDL) 7.4 70 1300000
(AFTER
Apr 0.3(BDL) 7.1 56 1500000
4 CONFLUENCE
May 0.3(BDL) 7.1 38 2300000
OF SHAHDARA
DRAIN AN
TUGHLAKABAD Jun 0.3(BDL) 7.57 44 2400000
DRAIN)
3ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1949
TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 31.07.2024 REGARDING “PROGRESS IN CLEANING
OF YAMUNA RIVER”.
The List of project sanctioned under Namami Gange Programme in NCT-Delhi
Treatment Sanctioned
Sl.No Name of Project Capacity Cost (₹ In Status
(MLD) crore)
A. Delhi
Rehabilitation of Trunk Sewer
1 - 87.43 Completed
No.4
Rehabilitation of Trunk Sewer
2 - 83.4 Completed
No.5
Rehabilitation and upgradation
of Kondli Phase-I STP (45
3 204 239.11 Completed
MLD), Phase-II STP (114 MLD)
& Phase-III STP (45 MLD)
4 Rehabilitation of Rising Mains - 59.13 Completed
5 Rehabilitation of Trunk Sewers - 43.92 Completed
6 Rehabilitation of Rising Main - 45.4 Completed
Rehabilitation and up-gradation
7 182 211.79 Completed
of Phase-I STP
Construction of 564 MLD (124
8 MGD) Waste Water Treatment 564 665.78 Completed
Plant (WWTP)
Construction of 318 MLD (70
9 MGD) at Coronation Pillar, 318 515.07 Completed
Delhi
Grand Total 1,268 1,951.03
*****
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