Yamuna pollution in Delhi: Untreated sewage, project delays and solid waste shortage highlighted by Jal Shakti Ministry

The Jal Shakti Ministry on Monday, December 1, said untreated sewage, missing effluent treatment plants, project delays and major shortfall in solid waste processing are the major reasons for the Yamuna being polluted in the national capital.

The ministry also said the Delhi Jal Board spent about ₹5,536 crore in the last three financial years on efforts to keep the river clean.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said Delhi had a sewage treatment gap of 414 MLD in August 2025, lacked common effluent treatment plants in many approved industrial areas, and was facing delays in completing and upgrading sewage treatment projects.

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He said Delhi generates 11,862 tonnes of solid waste daily, but has the capacity to treat only 7,641 tonnes, leaving a gap of 4,221 tonnes.

The minister said the Yamuna enters Delhi at Palla, where its water quality fluctuates throughout the year depending on water availability and discharge from the catchment area. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the median biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels between January and July 2025 were 4 mg/litre and 6 mg/litre respectively.

The DPCC assessment in September recorded better figures, with BOD at 2.5 mg/l and DO at 9.5 mg/l, both within healthy limits.

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The minister said that the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is supporting the states through financial assistance. Under the Namami Gange programme, 35 projects worth ₹6,534 crore have been sanctioned for Yamuna rejuvenation, which aims to create 2,243 MLD sewage treatment capacity.

Of these, 21 projects have been completed, he said.