Centre flags delays in Yamuna clean-up

New Delhi: Expressing concern over delays in the rejuvenation of the Yamuna, central govt has directed all agencies to expedite pending work and adhere to timelines. The matter is being monitored at the level of the Union home minister, officials said.

A review meeting of the executive committee on Yamuna rejuvenation, held under the chairpersonship of the Delhi chief secretary, flagged “indecisiveness” and implementation bottlenecks within key departments as major reasons for delays in the clean-up.

Officials told TOI that the rejuvenation remains a top priority for govt and is under continuous review by the Union home minister.

“The chair expressed grave concern over delays arising from land availability constraints, inter-agency coordination gaps, and enforcement issues, and directed departments to shift focus to outcome-based delivery and ensure time-bound execution,” a document accessed by TOI said.

Among the key interventions discussed was the proposed environmental flow (e-flow) augmentation from Uttar Pradesh, with plans to lay two pipelines of 250 cusecs each. WAPCOS Limited has been approached to prepare cost estimates, and directions have been issued for expeditious approvals.

Progress on major dam projects, including the Kishau dam, was also reviewed. Officials highlighted delays in signing a memorandum of understanding among beneficiary states and flagged the absence of communication from the ministry concerned. Delhi govt has been asked to examine the financial implications and seek necessary approvals.

DJB informed the panel about steps taken to enhance sewage treatment capacity between 2022 and 2025, along with plans to upgrade nine sewage treatment plants, as per new standards set by Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

However, tendering delays and the re-invitation of bids for several projects have pushed timelines, with authorities now aiming to complete the process by March-end.

Govt also plans to set up 35 decentralised sewage treatment plants to increase treatment capacity from 870 MGD to 1,040 MGD. Of these, 13 standalone projects are under progress, while the remaining 22 are being restructured for fresh bidding. Delays of up to three months have been reported because of bid withdrawals.

The meeting reviewed projects funded by National Mission for Clean Ganga, under which around 460 MGD capacity is planned. Ten projects have been identified, and DPRs for two have been submitted. However, issues such as land constraints at Delhi Gate and concerns over demolition timelines have delayed progress.

On the pollution front, joint inspections by MCDi and Delhi Pollution Control Committee have identified over 900 industrial units and action has been taken against 28 violators.

The chief secretary directed stricter enforcement and accountability, warning against any lapses.

Efforts to improve water quality monitoring have also been stepped up, with monthly monitoring now under way at 47 locations. Additionally, the Central Pollution Control Board and the DPCC have been tasked with strengthening surveillance mechanisms.

The committee further reviewed measures such as in-situ treatment of drains, expansion of sewer connections to over 90,000 households by 2026, and desilting of stormwater drains, which is scheduled for completion by May this year.

Additionally, a significant portion of pollution and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) entering Delhi is originating from Haryana, prompting the formation of a joint committee comprising the Central Water Commission, the Government of Haryana, and the Delhi government.

The committee has been tasked with assessing the carrying capacity of the Najafgarh drain and exploring the feasibility of reducing inflows from Haryana, including the construction of a new drain to divert stormwater downstream of the Yamuna through Gurugram. Two meetings have recently been held to examine the techno-economic feasibility of the proposal.

Emphasising the urgency, the Chief Secretary directed the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department to proactively engage with the committee chairperson, noting that Delhi stands to benefit the most from reduced inflows.

He also called for more frequent meetings, data sharing, and site visits to expedite decision-making. Separately, on the issue of silt management following desilting of drains, the I&FC Department informed that four sites have been identified and a request for proposal (RFP) is being prepared for permanent disposal solutions such as bio-mining.

With multiple agencies involved, the Centre has stressed coordinated action and warned that committed deadlines—especially those reviewed at the level of the Home Minister—must not be breached under any circumstances.
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