In a landmark move aimed at addressing long-standing environmental challenges, the Delhi government has allocated ₹500 crore for the cleaning of the Yamuna River in its budget for the 2025-26 financial year. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta made the announcement during a session in the Delhi Assembly on March 25, 2025, stating that the allocation is a critical step towards mitigating the pollution that has plagued the river for decades.
The Delhi budget, with a total outlay of ₹1 trillion, also includes significant investments in infrastructure, water sanitation, and road improvements. Specifically, ₹500 crore will be used to develop 40 decentralized sewage treatment plants (STPs), a preventive measure to ensure that untreated sewage is not directly released into the Yamuna. Gupta emphasized the cultural heritage attached to the river, saying, "Today, the Yamuna is struggling with sewage and polluted water. We are committed to cleaning the Yamuna River. It is not just a river for us; it is our cultural heritage. Rs 500 crores have been allocated to develop 40 decentralized sewage plants so that any sewage water is not released directly into the Yamuna River."
Additionally, the budget allocates ₹500 crore for the repair and upgrading of existing STPs and ₹250 crore to replace outdated sewer lines. Efforts to improve water sanitation will receive ₹9,000 crore, highlighting a broad strategic vision for clean drinking water and improved cleanliness across the national capital.
This initiative comes at a time when the issue of Yamuna pollution has garnered considerable attention. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal previously claimed that the river was being "poisoned" as it flowed in from Haryana, a charge that the Nayab Singh Saini government has firmly denied. A report from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on January 30 indicated that while the Yamuna enters Delhi with relatively good health, it rapidly becomes polluted; by the time it reaches Jaitpur, its water quality deteriorates significantly, with high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and faecal coliform levels that exceed acceptable safety limits.
The historical context of the Yamuna cleanup efforts reveals a complicated picture. Over ₹8,000 crore has been invested since 1993 through the Yamuna Action Plan, which has yet to yield the desired results. Despite the establishment of 37 STPs, water quality tests have shown ongoing issues, particularly with untreated sewage from unauthorized colonies still flowing into the river.
Gupta described this year's budget as "historic," asserting, "This budget is not just an account or ledger; this is a budget of transformation from a bad economy to Viksit Delhi." The government aims to shift the narrative from past failures to a proactive stance, with expectations for significant improvements in the environmental landscape and overall quality of life in the capital.
In addition to the Yamuna funding, the Delhi budget allocates ₹5,100 crore for the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, focused on women's prosperity, and ₹28,000 crore for capital expenditure aimed particularly at enhancing infrastructure connecting the National Capital Region (NCR). Furthermore, ₹1,000 crore has been earmarked to improve connectivity and transport within this bustling urban landscape. Gupta's statement regarding intelligent meters to prevent water theft also adds to the ambition behind this budget.
As political leaders and environmental groups alike scrutinize these expenditures, there is cautious optimism over the potential impact. The BJP’s recent commitments to clean the Yamuna were highlighted intensely during the election campaigns, underpinning the importance of this issue for many constituents. Past initiatives such as the 'Yamuna Kosh' fund, which was introduced in their manifesto to facilitate river rejuvenation, now gain renewed focus in light of these new financial commitments.
Overall, the budget's design reflects a concerted effort to address the key concerns of pollution while placing Delhi on a path toward better sustainability and infrastructural integrity. As the government gears up for implementation, all eyes will be on the effectiveness of these initiatives and how they will translate into tangible results for the population and the river alike. The fate of Yamuna will no longer just be a matter of policy but a reflection of the diligence of a government looking to inspire change.
