Amit Shah Reviews Yamuna Rejuvenation; Calls For Joint Action By 3 States

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired a high-level meeting on the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River and directed the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to work together through an integrated action plan to improve the river’s health and water quality.

Emphasising the need to maintain standard ecological flow in the Yamuna, Shah said the three states have collectively established 128 sewage treatment plants (STPs), with another 99 expected to become operational by the end of 2027. He stressed the importance of strict monitoring of STPs and industrial effluents to prevent pollution.

Shah directed officials to develop common effluent treatment plants and dairy waste management facilities with future needs in mind. He also announced that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the National Dairy Development Board will soon sign an agreement to stop dairy waste from entering the Yamuna and convert it into biogas and organic manure.

The Minister urged all stakeholders to accelerate efforts to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a clean Yamuna.

Shah said desilting work is nearly complete, with 97 per cent of the estimated 28.6 lakh metric tonnes of silt already removed.

Authorities will use the extracted silt in manufacturing projects to prevent it from returning to the river during the monsoon.

Shah also directed authorities to regularly assess all drains and water sources connected to the Yamuna using key environmental indicators such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS). He called for a detailed, time-bound roadmap for all rejuvenation projects, supported by long-term maintenance plans and progress reviews every 20 days to ensure effective implementation.