Pollution control bodies from the Centre, Delhi, and Haryana will jointly monitor the Yamuna river every quarter due to drain water contamination endangering aquatic life. The decision follows reports of thousands of fish dying in Burari from chemical effluents. The National Mission for Clean Ganga informed the National Green Tribunal of this plan amid ongoing pollution concerns.
Drain water overflowing into the Yamuna has emerged as a major contamination source, prompting joint quarterly monitoring by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), and Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) of this initiative recently.
The move addresses concerns over the alleged deaths of thousands of fish in the river at Burari, attributed to chemical effluents from factories. The 22-km stretch from Palla, where the Yamuna enters Delhi, to Asgarpur, where it exits, accounts for over 80% of the pollution load in the capital and is one of its most degraded sections.
A CPCB report from February highlighted monitoring at Palla and Wazirabad, noting that water quality at Wazirabad fails outdoor bathing criteria due to poor outfalls from drain 8. Minutes from an October 13 meeting, attended by NMCG, HSPCB, and DPCC officials, revealed variations in water quality data submitted by the agencies.
HSPCB officials stated that drain 8 typically carries clean water, while treated effluent from the Kundli Common Effluent Treatment Plant discharges via drain 6. They noted rare mixing but occasional overflows from drain 6 into drain 8, where the drains overlap. Haryana is laying a dedicated pipeline to prevent these overflows and will complete covering drain 6 on an urgent basis, providing a timeline soon. The state will also include diversion drain data in monthly NMCG reports.
Quarterly joint monitoring will occur at three locations: the confluence of drain 8 with the Yamuna, and points along the river before and after. Sampling sites will be finalized with CPCB input.
On September 17, the NGT bench, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr A Senthil Vel, rejected NMCG's claim of non-responsibility for Burari pollution under the 2016 River Ganga Authorities Order. The bench criticized Haryana and Delhi for shifting blame and directed CPCB to convene a joint meeting to fix responsibility and prevent future incidents. The next hearing is on December 1.