New Delhi: As part of its intensified efforts to rejuvenate the Yamuna River, the BJP-led Delhi government has announced the installation of 32 real-time water quality monitoring stations across the capital. This move is aimed at closely tracking pollution levels in the river and its major tributary drains.
According to a senior government official, 10 monitoring stations will be placed directly on the Yamuna River at key locations including Palla, ISBT Bridge, ITO Bridge, Nizamuddin Bridge, and Okhla Barrage. The remaining 22 stations will be set up on major drains, such as the Najafgarh, Metcalfe House, Khyber Pass, and Sweeper Colony drains. Border drains like Singhu (DD6, Sonepat), Bahadurgarh, Shahdara, Sahibabad, and Banthia will also be included in the initiative.
These stations will continuously monitor and transmit real-time data on various pollutants—including Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Ammonia levels—directly to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) server. The data will help track progress in the river’s clean-up and guide further action.
The installation of the stations is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with the tender process already underway.
The Yamuna clean-up drive is a top priority for the new administration under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The project is being closely monitored by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, CM Gupta, and Environment Minister Parvesh Verma, who have been conducting regular inspections at various drains discharging into the river.
In the Delhi Budget 2025–26, the government allocated ₹500 crore specifically for Yamuna rejuvenation efforts. This includes the construction of 40 decentralised sewage treatment plants (STPs) to ensure that wastewater is treated before it enters the river. Additionally, ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked to upgrade the state’s sewage infrastructure and support broader river restoration efforts.
The Yamuna’s pollution has been a longstanding issue in Delhi, with previous administrations failing to deliver on their clean-up promises. The current government has committed to making significant progress on the project within its first term in office.
