5. The Yamuna river
originates at
g
Yamunotri in
Uttarakhand.
The total length of the
river from the Glacier
river from the Glacier
to the Ganga Sanagm
at Allahabad is about
at Allahabad is about
1,300 km.
8. Sewage Disposal
The 22 km stretch of
The 22 km stretch of
the Yamuna in Delhi
contributes over 80%
contributes over 80%
of the pollution load
of the entire 1300 km
of the entire 1300 km
river.
The stretch is barely
2% of the length of
of the length of
the river.
13. Delhi Jal Board sewage generation estimate : 3632 MLD
Actual sewage treatment : 1478MLD
A l 1478MLD
Which is only 64% of treatment capacity
The Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) remain grossly
underutilised.
Three STPs (Ghitorni, Rohini and Keshopur‐I) do not treat
even a drop of waste
17. Ecological flow
For the health of any river, the amount of
For the health of any river the amount of
water drawn out for usage must be limited. The
standards required for ecological flow are
t d d i df l i l fl
completely disregarded in case of the Yamuna
in Delhi.
25. However the amount of sewage generated by the
slum population 30 % of the population accounts for
slum population ‐ 30 % of the population accounts for
merely 3.3 % of the total sewage generated by the
entire city population.
entire city population.
It is the illegal, unregularised and unauthorised
It is the illegal, unregularised and unauthorised
residential and commercial colonies that are not
connected to the sewage system. Hence 50% of the
connected to the sewage system. Hence 50% of the
sewage that enters the Yamuna is untreated.
44. Covering the banks with impermeable concrete and
Covering the banks with impermeable concrete and
construction has threatened this groundwater
recharge zone.
recharge zone
Illegal constructions on the floodplain ‐ Akshardham
Temple, the Delhi Government Secretariat and the
l h lh d h
Commonwealth Games Village ‐continue to exist.
46. The River is Dead
Oxygen level when river exits Delhi is almost zero, unable to
yg
support any aquatic life. It is even unfit for bathing.
Yamuna at palla
14
Yamuna river at Nizamuddin
Yamuna river at Okhla after meeeting
12 Shahdara Drain
n Demand (BOD)
M aximum permissible limit for bathing
10
8
mical Oxygen
6
Biochem
4
2
0
47. Even during monsoon, the river is not able to
rejuvenate it self.
During 2005 during monsoon, the DO (Dissolved
Oxygen) levels at Nizamuddin rose to 4 mg/l (October
2005) where as in 2007 observed levels were
2.1 mg/l (August 2007).
5 mg/l‐ the limit set for bathing water quality
54. What h b
Wh t has been done
d
to clean the River?
?
55. Between 1995 and 2005 the government of Delhi
has incurred a total expenditure of
has incurred a total expenditure of
Rs. 1100 to Rs. 1450 crore
on building sewage and waste treatment facilities.
on building sewage and waste treatment facilities
56. In addition, there has been planning and funding
through YAP (Yamuna Action Plan).
through YAP (Yamuna Action Plan).
By 2006, capital investments totaling
Rs. 1,188 1,491 crore have literally gone down the
Rs 1 188‐ 1 491 crore have literally gone down the
drain.
67. What
Wh t needs to be
d t b
done/ way forward?
/ f ?
68. Recently,
Recently Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said
“...Our country is blessed with mighty rivers
y g y
that are inextricably linked with our history, our
religious beliefs, our culture and our customs of our
people.
l
…We have decided to adopt a different and more
We
holistic approach taking the river and not the city as
the unit of planning...focus on catchment area
p g
treatment, protection of flood plains, ensuring
ecological flows and restoration of the river
ecosystem...”
70. The Yamuna
Satyagrah began
in Aug 2007 and
i A 2007 d
pledged to save
the Yamuna flood
plains from
encroachments.
24 hour dharnas
are carried out to
are carried out to
keep the
Satyagrah, alive
which goes on till
h h ll
date at the
Qudisa Ghat.
72. Rainwater Harvesting
R i t H ti
Annual rainfall in Delhi is substantial and the city
A l i f ll i D lhi i b t ti l d th it
area receives a normal rainfall of 611.8 mm in 27
rainy days amounting to 193 MCM, which however
i d ti t 193 MCM hi h h
goes unutilised at the moment.