HomeDelhi to boost Yamuna flow with treated water

Delhi to boost Yamuna flow with treated water

To restore ecological flow and reduce pollution in the Yamuna, the Delhi government will release 5.69 cumecs of treated wastewater from the Okhla STP by February 2026. This move aims to bridge the gap in minimum flow requirements and ease the toxic load along severely affected stretches like Okhla and Kalindi Kunj.

In a renewed push to revive the Yamuna’s deteriorating health, the Delhi government is set to channel treated wastewater from Asia’s largest sewage treatment plant at Okhla into the river. The decision comes in response to mounting environmental concerns, expert warnings, and parliamentary panel recommendations calling for an environmental flow (e-flow) of at least 23 cubic metres per second (cumecs) to maintain the river’s ecological functionality. Currently, the Yamuna flows at a dismal 10 cumecs in its Delhi stretch. The new plan will see 5.69 cumecs of treated effluent released from the 564 MLD capacity Okhla plant, a volume that represents a significant, albeit partial, step towards meeting the mandated minimum flow. While not enough to completely revive the river, this addition is expected to dilute pollutants and improve water quality near pollution hotspots such as Kalindi Kunj and Okhla.

The importance of maintaining a consistent e-flow is underscored by ecological experts and institutions, who have repeatedly emphasised that a minimum flow is essential to support aquatic life, prevent stagnation, and enable the natural self-purification process of rivers. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the city’s environment department have both reiterated the urgency of this requirement in their 2024 river rejuvenation meetings. To enable this discharge, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) initiated infrastructure works in 2022 to construct a 2,800 mm diameter pipeline using micro-tunnelling technology. The pipeline, which will carry the treated water from the STP to a point downstream of the Okhla barrage via the Abul Fazal drain, has seen 100 metres of progress along its 225-metre route near Jasola Road. The project had stalled for months due to delayed permissions from the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, which has jurisdiction over the Yamuna’s downstream flows. The necessary clearance was only granted in March 2025, clearing the path for final execution, which is expected to conclude by the end of next year.

Officials believe that releasing treated water will help reduce chemical and organic contamination in some of the Yamuna’s most polluted segments. These stretches are known for thick foam formation and a persistent stench, caused by unchecked discharge of raw sewage and industrial waste over the years. According to urban infrastructure officials, the enhanced flow could also help marginally restore dissolved oxygen levels and improve the overall water profile in targeted locations. The Okhla STP, operational since April 2025, is a flagship initiative under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and was jointly executed by the DJB. First conceived in 2017, it represents a major step forward in wastewater management for the National Capital Region and includes provisions for tertiary treatment that complies with the highest environmental discharge standards.

Despite this progress, environmental experts caution against treating this measure as a silver bullet. According to river restoration advocates, while the release of treated water may offer temporary relief, it does little to address the root causes of pollution — namely the continual dumping of untreated or partially treated sewage. Experts argue that without comprehensive wastewater redirection, decentralised treatment, and long-term behavioural changes in urban water usage, the Yamuna will continue to function more like a drain than a living river. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the quality of the effluent being discharged. Environmental monitors insist that rigorous real-time monitoring must be conducted to ensure the discharged water meets safety and purity norms. If not treated to required standards, even “treated” effluent could contribute to chemical load accumulation and bio-toxicity in aquatic ecosystems.

Government officials involved in the project say the decision to release treated effluent was taken after careful modelling of the Yamuna’s seasonal flow patterns and pollution levels. They maintain that the plan aligns with the city’s broader water circularity goals — where treated wastewater can also be diverted for industrial, horticultural, or construction use, thereby reducing dependence on freshwater withdrawal. Urban water sustainability experts have also recommended the creation of a robust city-wide policy for the use of treated water in non-potable applications. They believe this could turn wastewater from a liability into a resource, especially as Delhi grapples with rising water demand and erratic river inflows driven by climate change and upstream usage.

The Yamuna’s condition remains a litmus test for India’s urban environmental governance. While the decision to augment its flow with treated water from Okhla marks a positive shift in approach — moving from symbolic clean-up drives to infrastructural intervention — its true impact will depend on execution, consistency, and long-term vision. In its current state, the Yamuna continues to mirror the capital’s environmental contradictions — technological advancement on one hand and persistent ecological neglect on the other. With the timeline for completion set for February 2026, stakeholders and citizens alike will be watching closely to assess whether this intervention can usher in measurable change or becomes another stopgap in the long and often troubled journey to rejuvenate one of India’s most polluted rivers.

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Delhi to boost Yamuna flow with treated water
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