Cleaning of Yamuna
The Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) was started in 1993. Various works related to sewerage/interception and diversion of drains, sewage treatment plants (STPs), low cost sanitation/community toilet complexes, electric/improved wood crematoria were taken up under YAP. Under both phases of YAP I & II, a total of 305 schemes have been sanctioned for undertaking pollution abatement activities in the identified polluted stretches of the river Yamuna. A treatment capacity of 942 mld (YAP-I: 753 mld, YAP-II: 189 mld) have been established. The YAP Phase-III project for Delhi has been approved with an estimated cost of Rs. 1656 crore under the JICA assistance for rehabilitation and up-gradation of existing STPs (950 mld) and trunk sewers (43kms).
Two projects have been sanctioned in Sonepat and Panipat towns at a cost of Rs. 217.87 crore for pollution abatement of river Yamuna. The main project components includes construction of new STPs of 70 mld capacity and rehabilitation of existing STPs of 75 mld capacity. The works are being implemented by PHED, Haryana.
In addition, under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) project of Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), DJB is implementing an interceptor sewer project costing Rs. 1357 crore to intercept sewage flowing into river Yamuna from three major drains, namely Najafgarh, Supplementary and Shahdara in Delhi.
The efforts on river Yamuna have been consolidated under Namami Gange an umbrella programme for River Ganga & all its tributaries and sub-tributaries.
The total expenditure incurred on conservation of river Yamuna under the YAP Phase I & II is Rs. 1514.70 crore, including Consultancy Services). This Ministry has released Rs. 9.96 crore to DJB for PMC services for YAP-III till date. An amount of Rs. 88.66 crore has been released by the Ministry towards implementation of Sonepat and Panipat projects till date.
The efforts for cleaning Yamuna are expected to show desired results by 2019.
Based on long term assessment of water quality data of river Yamuna by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the observations made on various stretches of Yamuna River are as under:
The water quality at Yamnotri and Shanachetti is in pristine condition with respect to all parameters.
The water quality from Lakhwar dam to Wazirabad meets the criteria most of the times for all parameter except for Faecal Coliform.
The water quality of River Yamuna with respect to pH ranges from 6.1 to 9.4. The conductivity is complying with desired water quality criteria at all locationsand ranges from 74-374 umhos/cm.
The stretch of river Yamuna from its origin to Wazirabad is found to be largely within the prescribed limits with respect to Dissolved oxygen and BOD.
The BOD ranges from 0.8-43.0 mg/l in the entire length of river. The stretch in ?the vicinity of Nizamuddin barrage to Juhika exceeds the criteria in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand.
Dissolved Oxygen is not meeting the criteria in the stretch of Nizamuddin barrage to Mazawali. The DO varies from 0.6 to 27 mg/I. Super saturation of DO indicates that the river is highly septic or eutrophicated at a number of locations (Mathura D/s to Juhika).
Faecal Coliform value ranges from 9 to 29x105 MPN/100ml. Faecal coliform is exceeding the criteria at most of the monitoring locations except Lakhwardam, U/s Paonta Sahib and Allahabad D/s.
Total Coli form value ranges from 10-92 x 105 MPN/100 ml. Total Coli form exceeding the criteria at most of the monitoring locations.
Samir/jk
