Clean up drains flowing into Yamuna before river enters Delhi: Centre to Haryana

New Delhi: Shifting the focus of pollution control in Yamuna before it enters Delhi, the Centre has proposed a strict, time-bound action plan to ensure that untreated and polluted wastewater from Haryana is cleaned.

The Union home minister and home secretary have asked Haryana to undertake zone-wise drone mapping of all drains and sub-drains discharging into the river. This will include real-time assessment of flow levels and continuous monitoring of water quality, aimed at identifying major pollution hotspots and ensuring targeted intervention — on the lines of similar efforts already underway in Delhi.

A key concern is the high biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels, particularly in drains entering from Sonipat. The Centre has directed Haryana govt to prepare a roadmap with defined timelines to bring down BOD levels from around 106 mg/L to nearly 30 mg/L before the wastewater enters Delhi. The roadmap is expected to detail the required capacity and the number of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) needed to meet these targets.

“We are shifting the focus to stopping pollution at its source. Haryana has been asked to implement a time-bound, science-based plan to ensure that no untreated or chemically contaminated wastewater enters Delhi through the Yamuna. With strict monitoring, reduction of BOD levels, and expansion of treatment infrastructure, we aim to bring a measurable improvement in water quality,” a senior govt official told TOI.

The plan also calls for urgent intervention in Drain Nos. I, II and III, ensuring that pollutant loads are reduced to acceptable limits prior to their entry into Delhi. For Drain No. 8, officials have been asked to furnish precise data on flow rates and BOD levels at the point where it flows into the capital.

Further, a detailed clean-up strategy has been proposed for Najafgarh Drain, one of the biggest contributors to pollution in Yamuna.

Haryana has been directed to prepare a comprehensive action plan that includes mapping of all existing STPs and CETPs, identification of polluting industries, flow measurement and an estimation of additional treatment infrastructure required. The plan must also outline clear timelines for execution and operationalisation.

The proposed measures signal a coordinated interstate effort --- with a focus on scientific monitoring, infrastructure augmentation and accountability --- to address one of the most persistent environmental challenges in the region.