Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan 2025 Explained for UPSC/GPSC

The Yamuna River, one of India's most sacred and historically significant rivers, continues to suffer from high levels of pollution, untreated sewage, and ecological degradation. On July 11, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress and challenges in the Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan, setting new deadlines and pushing for inter-state coordination.

This article breaks down the latest developments, policies, and environmental initiatives around the Yamuna rejuvenation for UPSC, GPSC, and other competitive exam aspirants. With its intersection of environmental governance, cooperative federalism, and public policy, this topic is highly relevant to GS Paper II and III.

Illustration of Yamuna Rejuvenation 2025 showing river cleanup, STPs, state collaboration, and environmental efforts; suitable for UPSC/GPSC readers.

Doubling Sewage Treatment Capacity by 2028

One of the core directives from the review meeting was for the Delhi government to double its sewage treatment capacity by 2028. Currently, Delhi’s sewage treatment capacity stands at approximately 600–700 MGD (million gallons per day). The revised target is to increase this to:

  • 1250 MGD by June 2027
  • 1500 MGD by 2028

To meet this, the city plans to upgrade 18 existing STPs (sewage treatment plants) and build decentralized treatment systems. Special attention will be given to treating the industrial effluents entering the Najafgarh and Shahdara drains. These drains contribute more than 75% of the river’s pollution in Delhi.

Source: The Hindu

Inter-State Coordination: Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh

Addressing the complexity of river basin management, Amit Shah emphasized the need for cooperative federalism. He instructed Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to work together in:

  • Controlling industrial discharge and untreated sewage inflows
  • Coordinating infrastructure upgrades for shared drainage points
  • Implementing third-party verification of treated water discharge

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and its counterparts in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are now mandated to increase oversight and accountability. This measure aligns with the principle of inter-state water governance — a recurring theme in GS-II polity and GS-III environment sections.

Source: Hindustan Times

Drain Monitoring and Ecological Flow Maintenance

Another major thrust of the plan is to restore the ecological flow (e-flow) of the Yamuna. This involves ensuring that enough treated and natural water is flowing through the river to support aquatic life and maintain self-cleaning capacity. Key steps include:

  • Drone surveys of major polluting drains (Najafgarh, Shahdara)
  • Regular monitoring of treated water quality from Okhla and Kondli STPs
  • Increasing downstream discharge to avoid stagnation and oxygen depletion

Maintaining e-flow is a key principle in freshwater ecology and sustainable river management, both important for GS-III mains.

Source: Hindustan Times

Rainwater Harvesting, Borewell Regulation & Tourism

Urban water extraction through illegal borewells, unregulated dairies, and poor rainwater harvesting infrastructure are worsening Delhi’s water imbalance. To address these:

  • A full survey of borewells across Delhi will be conducted
  • Phased regulation and licensing of borewells to ensure sustainable groundwater use
  • New reservoirs and lakes around the Yamuna will be developed for rainwater storage and tourism

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is collaborating with local governments to relocate and manage unauthorized dairies that contribute organic waste to the river.

These multi-sectoral steps link environmental protection with urban planning — a classic GS-III interdisciplinary issue.

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Budget Allocation and the National Mission for Clean Ganga

The Yamuna rejuvenation project receives funding and oversight under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). The 2025 meeting included budget discussions and reviewed current fund utilization. Highlights:

  • Increase in funds for decentralized treatment infrastructure
  • Special grants for inter-state coordination initiatives
  • Expansion of the 20-year water-cleaning vision for northern rivers

This long-term vision aligns with national priorities like the Ganga Action Plan, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), and Jal Jeevan Mission.

Source: Economic Times

Policy Implications and Exam-Relevant Takeaways

From an exam point of view, the Yamuna Rejuvenation initiative touches on several key syllabus areas:

  • Polity & Governance (GS-II): Inter-state relations, cooperative federalism, role of ministries
  • Environment & Ecology (GS-III): River pollution, e-flow, biodiversity preservation, STPs
  • Current Affairs: Budgetary priorities, inter-ministerial coordination, Jal Shakti policies

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Possible UPSC/GPSC mains questions:

  • “Discuss the importance of cooperative federalism in the success of river rejuvenation programmes in India.”
  • “Evaluate the role of urban infrastructure in addressing river pollution in India.”
  • “What are the challenges in maintaining ecological flow in Indian rivers? Suggest policy solutions.”

The Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan 2025 is not just a regional clean-up drive. It represents a case study in collaborative governance, urban environmental management, and sustainable resource use. The steps taken—ranging from STP upgrades to borewell regulation—offer critical lessons in decentralized planning, enforcement, and environmental justice.

For competitive exam aspirants, this is a high-value current affairs topic. Stay updated on future reviews, NGT observations, and actual progress on deadlines like 2027 and 2028 for possible follow-up questions in prelims and mains.

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