Yamuna Water Quality Deteriorates

Context

According to a July 2025 report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), faecal coliform levels in the Yamuna River have exceeded permissible limits by over 4,000 times at several locations in Delhi, indicating severe contamination from untreated sewage.

Key Pollutants and Parameters:

Faecal Coliform Count: At ITO Bridge, levels reached 92,00,000 MPN/100 ml, far exceeding the CPCB’s limit of 2,500 MPN/100 ml.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): Increased from 5 mg/l in June to 8 mg/l in July at Palla; peaked at 70 mg/l at ITO, against the CPCB safe limit of ?3 mg/l.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Plummeted from 6.3 mg/l to 3.4 mg/l at Wazirabad; fell to near-zero further downstream, making the water uninhabitable for aquatic life.

Causes of Deterioration:

Discharge of untreated and partially treated sewage from 22 drains entering the Yamuna in Delhi.
Ineffective tapping and treatment of drains despite ongoing clean-up initiatives.
Accumulated organic waste has significantly increased the river’s oxygen demand and bacterial load.

Regulatory and Monitoring Framework:

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) conducts monthly monitoring of water quality at eight key locations in compliance with National Green Tribunal (NGT)
The findings highlight non-compliance with CPCB guidelines under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.

Implications:

Such extreme levels of pollution indicate serious public health risks, loss of aquatic biodiversity, and failure to meet Water Quality Criteria (Class B and C) set by CPCB for bathing and aquatic life.
Undermines objectives of the Namami Gange Programme and Yamuna Action Plan.
Raises concerns regarding the urban water management and sewage infrastructure in the National Capital Region.