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Yamuna river rejuvenation efforts in Delhi

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2026-10-26 04:26 UTC → 2026-10-26 06:17 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 43 water and sewerage projects in Delhi, valued at approximately ₹8,941 crore. These initiatives aim to prevent untreated wastewater from entering the Yamuna river by upgrading existing sewage treatment plants, constructing new decentralized plants, and laying over 1,000 km of new sewer networks. The government has established a target to ensure the full cleaning of the river by May 2029 through coordination between the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Despite these large-scale investments and the recent launch of infrastructure projects, thick layers of toxic foam were observed on the surface of the Yamuna at Kalindi Kunj. On October 23 and 24, 2026, thick layers of toxic foam were observed floating on the river surface, with sightings reappearing on Sunday, October 25. While Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has reaffirmed the administration's commitment to rejuvenation, noting that recent investments follow previous projects worth approximately ₹9,000 crore to ₹10,000 crore, the recurring presence of foam—linked to detergents and untreated wastewater—remains a persistent environmental challenge. This water contamination coincides with a decline in regional air quality, which has prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to implement Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). On October 25, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 187, placing the capital in the ‘moderate’ category, though several monitoring stations recorded much higher, ‘poor’ levels. Recent AQI readings have fluctuated between 164 and 187, with high concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 identified as primary pollutants.

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