YAMUNA ACTION PLAN AND SUSTAINABLE RIVER POLLUTION CONTROL: A POLICY AND GOVERNANCE REVIEW

Abstract

The Yamuna River maintains its position as one of the most polluted water bodies in northern India despite multiple decades of intervention efforts. Recently, the Yamuna River has been subjected to heavy pollution loads caused by the discharge of untreated or partially treated wastewater and industrial effluents. This necessitates the need for managing the pollution caused in the rivers. So, the Yamuna Action Plan is initiated for the effective control of river pollution. The research evaluates Yamuna Action Plans YAP I–III through their policy design elements, their governance systems, and public–private partnership structures. The methodology involves the use of the Weighted Average Water Quality Index (WAWQI), which is calculated using the quality scores and standardization of it into a 0 to 5 Water Quality Score (WQS) and the Efficiency Ratio (ER) is normalized for the dynamics of the cost-policy equation using logarithmically scaled funds. This reveals the continued disparity between infrastructure investment and actual improvements in river health, including constant high BOD concentrations in the 22 km reach of the river in Delhi. Although there has been improvement in the treatment facilities for sewage waste (from 726 MLD in YAP I to over 2,893 MLD at present), institutional fragmentation, upstream pollutants, and lax enforcement have led to setbacks, as indicated by the Priority-I status of pollution.The review uses data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB 2024) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC 2025) and academic research to demonstrate that sewage infrastructure development and technological advancements have increased substantially, yet weak governance and insufficient enforcement continue to block environmental restoration. The Delhi section of the Yamuna River maintains Biochemical Oxygen Demand levels exceeding 40 mg/L, which exceeds the required standards for bathing water quality. The thesis supports three essential recommendations for Yamuna River sustainability through the establishment of basin-wide governance, performance-based funding, and permanent community engagement. From that, the significance of YAP, importance, and the plans for sustainable river pollution management are explored in this review.