Cleaning the Yamuna: Ganga clean-up lessons reveal challenges ahead

In 1986, the DO levels were fit for drinking at all points except Varanasi, and in 2008, they were so at most places. Between 1986 and 2008, the BOD had improved but at many places it was still unfit

The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Delhi has promised to clean up the Yamuna in three years. It is a highly ambitious task, and one hopes it succeeds. However, the experience with efforts to clean the Ganga has not been encouraging.

 

The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1985. In 2009, the Supreme Court asked for a report on the use of funds and assets created under GAP. As a member of the Planning Commission in charge of water, I was asked to prepare the report.

 

Change in water quality

 

Water quality was reported