Progress Made in July as Yamuna River Water Quality Sees Significant Improvement

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The water quality of the Yamuna River saw a significant improvement in July, according to a recent report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the positive developments on Saturday, attributing the progress to a sustained and focused approach to cleaning the river. The minister’s statement highlighted notable reductions in key pollution indicators, marking a step forward in the long-term project to rejuvenate the vital waterway.

The DPCC, which collected water samples from eight monitoring locations along the river, reported that pollution levels have dropped sharply when compared to data from June. The most significant improvements were measured in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), two critical indicators of organic and chemical pollution. At the ITO Bridge, for instance, BOD levels fell from 70 mg/l in June to 20 mg/l in July, and COD levels dropped from 186 mg/l to 54 mg/l. Similar progress was noted at the Okhla Barrage. Additionally, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels, which had been near zero in some parts of the river, increased at locations like Palla and Wazirabad.

Minister Sirsa stated that these improvements are not a matter of luck but the result of deliberate and sustained human effort. He noted that a $500 crore allocation for the Yamuna cleaning program is being used to upgrade sewage treatment plants, intercept drains, and prevent untreated discharge from entering the river. The government has prioritized these projects, and the results from July’s report suggest that these efforts are starting to pay off.

The minister’s remarks offer a cautious but optimistic outlook, stating in a report, “We are not celebrating yet, but these results show our approach is working. The transformation of Delhi’s environment is underway.” He also linked the improved water quality to broader environmental gains, noting that Delhi recorded 29 out of 31 days in July with good or satisfactory air quality, making it the cleanest July on record. The public will be watching to see if these positive trends continue, signaling a lasting shift in the river’s health.