Yamuna clean-up plan faces hurdles as 17 STPs fail to meet norms

New Delhi: The BJP government in Delhi has been facing a major setback as far as cleaning Delhi’s Yamuna. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has flagged 17 out of 37 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Delhi that are releasing faecal coliform bacteria into the river, which is harmful for both the environment and human beings. Delhi’s environment minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, confirmed that 16 out of 37 STPs failed to meet the required norms in April.

During the assembly polls in February, the 40km stretch of the Yamuna flowing through Delhi was a debatable issue. The BJP blamed the AAP government for failing to clean-up the Yamuna despite remaining in power for ten years. The saffron party promised to revive the river in three years, and this issue was the top priority of the party’s manifesto.

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The Central Pollution Control Board reported that the non-complying STPs may be releasing untreated or poorly treated water into the Yamuna or nearby water bodies. The BJP had also planned to build 40 decentralized STPs to treat wastewater before it reaches the river.

According to Sirsa, two STPs—Okhla and Sonia Vihar — are ready and undergoing trials, while another one at Delhi Gate is coming up. Tenders have been invited for 32 new STPs, and land for 38 has been acquired. The government hopes all STPs will meet standards by June 2027.

The overall situation of Yamuna looks grim. It is a daunting task to clean up the river. Environmentalist Vikrant Tongad said that even with fully functioning STPs, it would take at least 10 to 15 years to clean up the Yamuna.