Lack of fresh water in Yamuna has taken toll on water quality

NEW DELHI: Increasing effluents and sewage coupled with lack of fresh water in Yamuna during lean period has taken a toll on the water quality of the river stretch passing through the national capital, the Rajya Sabha was informed.

Environment minister Namo Narain Meena in a reply to a question said the water quality monitoring carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicates the water quality in the stretch of the river from Tajewala to Palla in Haryana is within the prescribed limit.

However, "the stretch of the river in the vicinity of Delhi (downstream of Wazirabad barrage to Okhala barrage) and parts of Uttar Pradesh exceeds the standards in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand of 3.0 milligram per litre."

For the abatement of pollution of Yamuna river, Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) has been launched in a phased manner with the assistance of the Japan Bank for international cooperation.

Besides, "a total of 272 schemes have been completed in 21 towns in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and 753.25 million litres per day of sewage treatment capacity has been created so far under YAP at a cost of Rs 830.74 crores," he added.