Union ministry tells par panel Yamuna water failed quality test at 22 of 33 locations
New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI): The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Monday said 22 of the 33 locations at Yamuna River being monitored did not meet the compliance standards of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2024.
A PowerPoint presentation by the ministry to a parliamentary standing committee said all seven and 12 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, respectively, failed the "primary water quality criteria for outdoor bathing", while all four locations in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh each passed it, sources said.
In Haryana, three of the six locations at Yamuna met the required conditions, while as many failed, it added.
The CPCB's National Water Monitoring Programme (NWMP) evaluates water under the metrics of Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), pH and Faecal Coliform.
Lack of adequate sewage treatment, besides untapped drains in the national capital, a major source of pollution in the river, which is the biggest tributary of the Ganga, are important causes for contamination in the Yamuna, the sources said.
The ministry, in its presentation to the committee, said 791 MLD (megalitres per day) of sewage out of the total 3,600 MLD generated in Delhi remains untreated, according to the figures of February 2025.
The ministry officials said out of 22 drains in the city, only nine are tapped, and two are partially tapped, according to the sources.
However, there are nine untapped drains in Tughlakabad, Abul Fazal, ISBT, Sonia Vihar, Kailash Nagar, Shastri Park, Barapulla, Maharani Bagh and Jaitpur, while two large drains -- Najafgarh and Shahdara -- are not technically feasible for tapping.
The ministry noted that Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had constituted a high-level committee for reviewing the action plan to curb pollution in the Yamuna River in January 2023.
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Father, six-year-old son killed in Hassan road accident
Hassan: A father and his six-year-old son were killed in a tragic road accident between a car and a motorcycle near Devegowda Nagar at Bittagoudanahalli in Hassan city.
The deceased have been identified as Jayanna (38) and his son Mithun Rai (6), residents of Gorur. Jayanna’s wife Rajini and another son Milan sustained serious injuries in the accident and are undergoing treatment at a hospital. Their condition is said to be critical.
According to reports, Jayanna had come to Hassan along with his family to attend a programme. The accident occurred while they were returning to Gorur on a motorcycle after the event.
Police said the car, which was travelling towards Hassan from the Arakalagudu side, reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle and crashed head-on into the motorcycle coming from the opposite direction.
The impact of the collision killed six-year-old Mithun Rai on the spot. Jayanna, who suffered severe injuries, was rushed to hospital but later succumbed despite treatment.
On receiving information, Hassan Traffic Police Station personnel visited the spot and registered a case in this regard.
