UP to New Delhi: Yamuna's pollution crisis is a multi-state failure

Failure to build sewage treatment plants or keep them running well is choking the river

The Yamuna, the river that sustains millions in northern India, is grappling with a pollution crisis that extends well beyond New Delhi. The national capital is talked about often but data shows that the poor state of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in some other states is to blame, too.

 

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are doing fine: All their pollution monitoring stations where the river flows meet water quality norms. Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi are struggling, according to data in a Parliament standing committee’s report.

 

None of Haryana’s stations comply with water quality standards. Delhi has one compliant station and