DAMODARAM SANJIVAYYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY VISAKHAPATNAM,

ANDHRA PRADESH
ACT 32 OF 2008

PROJECT TITLE- YAMUNA ACTION PLAN

SUBJECT- ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
TEACHER- MS BUSHRA QUASMI

SUBMITTED BY- HARSHIT MALVIYA & K.S. MANASWI

ROLL NO – 2016039 & 2016045
SEMESTER – FIFTH SEMESTER

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 ABSTRACT

In 1977-78, CPCB initiated a study to assess the status of pollution of Yamuna River over its
1200 km course. The study examined the topography of the drainage basin, base flow,
population, land use pattern, industries, and agriculture practices and estimated the pollution load
from activities in the basin. Study conducted by the CPCB indicated that the major cause of
pollution is the discharge of domestic wastewater into the river which is about two-third of the
pollution load. The remaining pollution is contributed by industries and agriculture.

Based on the findings of this study, the Government of India (GoI) decided to take up water
quality restoration measures named as Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) under the mega project of the
Ganga Action Plan (GAP) phase–II.

The Yamuna Action Plan Phase - III project for Delhi has been approved by the Ministry in
December, 2011 at an estimated cost of Rs 1656 crore with loan assistance from Japan
International Cooperation Agency. Besides this, two projects have also been sanctioned by the
Ministry in July, 2012 at an estimated cost of Rs. 217.87 crore for taking up works for pollution
abatement of river Yamuna in towns of Sonepat and Panipat in Haryana which are located on
upstream of Wazirabad in Delhi. 

This project will aim at finding the position, advantages and limitations of the Yamuna Action
Plans and give suggestions regarding the nullification of such limitations.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researchers owe a great thank to a great many people who helped and supported them during
the writing of this project. Their deepest thanks to Ms Bushra Quasmi for guiding and
correcting various documents of them with attention and care. They have taken pain to
go through the project and make necessary correction as and when needed. They express their
thanks to the Vice Chancellor of, [DAMODARAM SANJIVAYYA NATIONAL LAW
UNIVERSITY, VISAKHAPATNAM], for extending his support. Thanks and appreciation to
the helpful people at [DSNLU Library] for their support. They would also thank the Institution
and the faculty members without whom this project would have been a distant reality. They also
extend their heartfelt thanks to their family and well-wishers.

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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................5

River Yamuna..................................................................................................................................6

Pollution in Yamuna........................................................................................................................7

Causes..........................................................................................................................................8

Conservation zone...........................................................................................................................9

NGT rules related to Yamuna..........................................................................................................9

Financial outlay.........................................................................................................................10

Activities planned......................................................................................................................11

Effects of YAP I........................................................................................................................12

YAP II............................................................................................................................................12

Background and Necessity of the Project..................................................................................13

Purpose and Description of the Project.....................................................................................13

Effects of YAP II.......................................................................................................................14

YAP III..........................................................................................................................................15

Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................15

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 INTRODUCTION
In 1977-78, CPCB initiated a study to assess the status of pollution of Yamuna River over its
1200 km course. The study examined the topography of the drainage basin, base flow,
population, land use pattern, industries, and agriculture practices and estimated the pollution load
from activities in the basin. Study conducted by the CPCB indicated that the major cause of
pollution is the discharge of domestic wastewater into the river which is about two-third of the
pollution load. The remaining pollution is contributed by industries and agriculture. Based on the
findings of this study, the Government of India (GoI) decided to take up water quality restoration
measures f named as Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) under the mega project of the Ganga Action
Plan (GAP) phase–II1. The Government of Japan provided loan assistance for implementation of
YAP in December-1990. YAP was formally launched in 1993, now called as YAP phase I (YAP
I). Subsequently, the work continued with the launch of YAP phase II (YAP II) in the year
2001(CPCB, 2006).

The Government of Japan provided loan assistance for implementation of YAP in December-
1990. YAP was formally launched in 1993, now called as YAP phase I (YAP I). The main
activities covered under YAP were interception and diversion works, pumping stations, STPs,
low cost toilet complex, crematorium, plantation, bathing ghat / river front development, public
participation and awareness and computer networking system. The limitation of YAP I were:

1. The STP capacity created remained under-utilised to the extent of 25-45% because of severe
limitations in the collection system and power availability.

2. The strategy in YAP-I did not adequately address non-point sources.

3.  Municipalities and agencies which were responsible for Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of
sewerage infrastructure were constrained to maximize the operational efficiency of the system
due to a combination of factors related to skills, finance, management systems, power cuts and
upstream sewerage infrastructure.

1
http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jestft/papers/vol10-issue4/Version-1/I1004017176.pdf

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Subsequently, the work continued with the launch of YAP phase II (YAP II) in the year 2004
with the senctioned cost of 647 crores.The project was completed in 2008 Under YAP II,
emphasis was on the 22-km stretch of Yamuna in Delhi. The Yamuna Action Plan Project Phase
II is regarded as the core project under the National River Conservation Plan of Government of
India. The project addresses the abatement of severe pollution of the River Yamuna by raising
sewage treatment capacity, caused by rapid population growth, industrialization and
urbanization. The plan includes building new and expanding capacity of old sewage treatment
plants and laying and rehabilitating sewers to enhance the treatment capacity particularly in
Delhi and Agra. Public participation and awareness were also a part of project to ensure the
residents' recognition of the necessity of water quality conservation in the River Yamuna, and
would establish linkage between the river conservation and their own living environments. But,
there had been no concrete results even though Rs.1,500crore had been spent through phases one
and two of the Yamuna Action Plan. It has been observed that despite of the continuous efforts to
minimize the pollution load still the BOD is not decreasing.

The Yamuna Action Plan Phase - III project for Delhi has been approved by the Ministry in
December, 2011 at an estimated cost of Rs 1656 crore with loan assistance from Japan
International Cooperation Agency. Besides this, two projects have also been sanctioned by the
Ministry in July, 2012 at an estimated cost of Rs. 217.87 crore for taking up works for pollution
abatement of river Yamuna in towns of Sonepat and Panipat in Haryana which are located on
upstream of Wazirabad in Delhi. 

River Yamuna

The Yamuna, also known as the Jamuna or as the Jumna, is the longest and the second
largest tributary river of the Ganges (Ganga) in northern India. Originating from
the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of 6,387 metres on the southwestern slopes
of Banderpooch peaks in the uppermost region of The Lower Himalaya in Uttarakhand, it travels
a total length of 1,376 kilometres (855 mi) and has a drainage system of 366,223 square
kilometres (141,399 sq mi), 40.2% of the entire Ganges Basin. It merges with the Ganges
at Triveni Sangam, Allahabad, the site—every twelve years—of the Kumbh Mela. It is the
longest river in India which does not directly flow to the sea2.
2
www.yamunariver.org.

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It crosses several states: Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, passing by Uttarakhand and later Delhi, and
meeting its tributaries on the way, including Tons, its largest tributary in Uttarakhand, Chambal,
its longest tributary which has its own large basin, followed by Sindh, the Betwa, and Ken. The
Yamuna does not pass across Himachal Pradesh, but the river receives water from Himachal
Pradesh via its tributary the Tons river. Most importantly, it creates the highly fertile alluvial,
Yamuna-Ganges Doab region between itself and the Ganges in the Indo-Gangetic plain. Nearly
57 million people depend on the Yamuna's waters. With an annual flow of about 10,000 cubic
billion metres (cbm) and usage of 4,400 cbm (of which irrigation constitutes 96 per cent), the
river accounts for more than 70 per cent of Delhi's water supplies. Like the Ganges, the Yamuna
is highly venerated in Hinduism and worshipped as the goddess Yamuna. In Hindu
mythology she is the daughter of the Sun God, Surya, and the sister of Yama, the God of Death,
hence also known as Yami. According to popular legends, bathing in its sacred waters frees one
from the torments of death.

At the HathniKund Barrage its waters are diverted into two large canals: the Western Yamuna
Canal flowing towards Haryana and the Eastern Yamuna Canal towards Uttar Pradesh 3. Beyond
that point the Yamuna is joined only by the Somb, a seasonal rivulet from Haryana, and by the
highly polluted Hindon River near Noida, so that it continues only as a trickling sewage-bearing
drain before joining the Chambal at Pachnada in the Etawah District of Uttar Pradesh.[4] The
water of Yamuna is of "reasonably good quality" through its length from Yamunotri in the
Himalayas to Wazirabad barrage in Delhi, about 375 kilometres (233 mi); the discharge of
wastewater through 15 drains between Wazirabad barrage and Okhla barrage renders the river
severely polluted below Wazirabad.

One official describes the river as a "sewage drain" with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
values ranging from 14 to 28 mg/l and high coliform content.[5] There are three main sources of
pollution in the river: household and municipal disposal sites, soil erosion resulting from
deforestation occurring to make way for agriculture, and resulting chemical wash-off from
fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides and run-off from commercial activity and industrial sites.
The Yamuna from its origin at Yamunotri to Okhla barrage] is called Upper Yamuna.

3
http://environmentportal.in/files/file/geo%20energy.pdf

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Pollution in Yamuna

In 1909, the waters of the Yamuna were distinguishable as clear blue, as compared to the silt-
laden yellow of the Ganges. However, due to high-density population growth and rapid
industrialisation today Yamuna is one of the most polluted rivers in the world 4, especially
around New Delhi, the capital of India, which dumps about 58% of its waste into the river. A
recent study shows that there is 100% urban metabolism of River Yamuna as it passes through
the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

Causes
New Delhi generates 1,900 million litres (500,000,000 US gal) per day (MLD) of sewage5.
Though many attempts have been made to process it, the efforts have proven futile. Although the
government of India has spent nearly $500 million to clean up the river, the Yamuna continues to
be polluted with garbage while most sewage treatment facilities are underfunded or
malfunctioning. In addition, the water in this river remains stagnant for almost nine months in a
year, aggravating the situation. Delhi alone contributes around 3,296 MLD of sewage in the
river. The government of India over the next five years has prepared plans to rebuild and repair
the sewage system and the drains that empty into the river.

To address river pollution, certain measures of river cleaning have been taken by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests in 12 towns of Haryana, eight towns of Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, under
the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) which has been implemented since 1993 by the National River
Conservation Directorate (NRCD) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Japan Bank
for International Cooperation is participating in the Yamuna Action Plan in 15 of the above 21
towns (excluding six towns of Haryana included later on the direction of the Supreme Court of
India) with soft loan assistance of 17.773 billion Japanese yen (equivalent to about Rs. 700 crore
INR) while the government of India is providing the funds for the remaining six towns added
later. In 2007, the Indian government's plans to repair sewage lines were predicted to improve
the water quality of the river 90% by the year 2010.

The last barrage across the Yamuna river is at the Mathura barrage at Gokul for supply of
drinking water to the city. Downstream of this barrage, many pumping stations are constructed to
4
www.nic.in
5

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feed the river water for irrigation needs.These pumping stations are near
PateoraDanda 25°55′09″N 80°13′27″E,Samgara 25°41′13″N 80°46′27″E,Ainjhi 25°43′35″N 80°
49′33″E, BilasKhadar 25°31′35″N 81°02′43″E Samari 25°27′19″N 81°11′43″E, etc. (Refer to
Google Earth maps.) Depletion of the base flows available in the river during the non-monsoon
months by these pump houses is enhancing river pollution from Mathura to Allahabad in the
absence of adequate fresh water to dilute the polluted water reaching the river from habitations
and industries.

However, in 2009, the Union government admitted to the LokSabha (Indian Parliament), the

failure of the Ganga Action Plan and the Yamuna Action Plan, saying that "rivers Ganga and
Yamuna are no cleaner now than two decades ago" despite spending over Rs 1,700 crore to
control pollution. According to a CSE official, these plans adopted the Thames model, based on
a centralised sewage treatment system. This meant that a huge sum of money and a 24-hour
power supply were needed to manage the treatment plants, while only an 8-hour power supply
was available, contributing to the failure of the river plans.

In August 2009, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) initiated its plan for resuscitating the Yamuna's 22-
kilometre (14 mi) stretch in Delhi by constructing interceptor sewers, at the cost of about Rs
1,800 crore.

Conservation zone
On 25 April 2014, The National Green Tribunal recommended the Government to declare a 52-
kilometre (32 mi) stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh as a conservation zone. A
report has been prepared by the ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) panel and
submitted to the NGA on the same day.Under the YAP-I and YAP-II, the cleaning of polluted
Yamuna was carried out in line with the level of the biological oxygen demand of Yamuna 6.
Under these two phases, 286 schemes, which also included 39 sewage treatment plants (STPs),
were completed in 21 towns of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana at a cost of Rs 1,453.17 crore
and sewage treatment capacity of 767.25 million litres per day has been created.

6
http://www.greentribunal.gov.in

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NGT rules related to Yamuna
As a consequence of present deplorable state of the river, NGT has given directions to take up
cleaning of Yamuna under Maily Se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalization Plan, 2017. In pursuance of
this direction, the Centre and the Delhi government have come together to launch projects under
phase three of the Yamuna Action Plan which will cost Rs. 825 crores. This Yamuna Action
Plan-3 will be the first plan to comprehensively help with sewage treatment and solid waste
management along with river front development and providing a proper ChhatGhat for devotees.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered that every household in Delhi will have to pay a
monthly environmental compensation to clean up Yamuna River. According to the direction, the
compensation to be paid will be directly proportional to the property or water tax whichever is
higher, paid by a particular household. In case of unauthorized colonies households that do not
pay property tax or water bill will have to pay an amount that would be between 100 rupees to
500 rupees.

According to the Tribunal, industrial units within a particular industrial cluster have to pay these
amounts on the ‘Polluter Pays’ Principle, for the pollution already caused by them and even
which they are causing presently, as well as to prevent pollution in future on the Precautionary
Principle. Major part of such costs, obviously have to be borne by the authorities concerned, let
us say 2/3rd, while 1/3rd of the total costs should be borne by the industries.

YAP-I

Financial outlay
The YAP I was initiated by GoI in April 1993 to abate the pollution and improve the water
quality of river Yamuna. YAP I was scheduled for completion in April, 2002, but the planned
projects continued until 2003. The year 2002-03 is called as extended phase of YAP-I. YAP was
entrusted under the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) in Ministry of
Environment and Forests (MoEF)7. Along with NRCD other Project Implementing Agencies
(PIAs) were Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (UPJN), the Public Health Engineering Department
(PHED) in Haryana, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
in Delhi.
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The financial assistance was provided by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in
the form of soft loan amounting to Yen 17.77 billion for pollution abatement works in 15 towns.
Beneficiary states were Haryana (Yen 6 billion), Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) (Yen 8 billion) and Delhi
(Yen 3.77 billion). However, in April 1996, on the directions of the Supreme Court (apex court
in India), six additional towns of Haryana were included.

Finally, YAP I covered pollution abatement worksin 21 towns. The approved cost of YAP I was
INR.5.09 billion. A saving of Yen 8 billion (equivalent to about INR.3 billion was available in
the JBIC assistance package due to the appreciation of Yen against Rupee). These were given by
JBIC for additional works in the same 15 towns and thereafter YAP I was extended upto
February, 2003.

In May, 2001, an additional amount of INR.2.22billion was also approved for the extended phase
under this proposal. Of this amount, INR.222.8 million was allotted to Haryana, INR. 1.66
billion to Delhi and INR.296.5 million to U.P. In addition, an amount of INR.40.5 million has
been provided for fees payable to Indo-Japanese consultant consortium.

The total cost of YAP I along with the additional package was INR.7.32billion.The funding of
action plan was shared equally between the Central and State Governments. However, the
funding by the Central Government was doubled when in 2001, the contribution of State
Governments also increased by 30% (Planning Commission, 2007).

Activities planned
Under YAP I, broadly two types of activities were taken up. One includes sewerage schemes
wherein the construction of 29 STPs (with a total capacity of about 726 MLD), 58 pumping
stations, and 179 km of sewers was proposed. In another scheme the installation of non-sewerage
facilities such as 1282 public toilet complexes, 96 crematoria, River front development,
plantation and public awareness and participation were proposed 8. YAP I also included
construction of 5 mini sewage treatment plants and 10micro sewage treatment plants for some of
the community toilet complexes (CTCs) to examine viability of decentralized sewerage system
and on-site treatment of sewage, respectively. The other component was on public participation
and awareness program involving several NGOs.

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This was also supplemented by carrying out river pollution study to estimate future pollution
loads into river Yamuna from different sources in 33 major towns of the Yamuna river basin.

Thus, the total sewage treatment capacity created under YAP I was 750MLD (Planning
Commission, 2007). The main activities covered under YAP for Haryana, Delhi and U.P were
interception and diversion works, pumping stations, STPs, low cost toilet complex, crematorium,
plantation, bathing ghat / river front development, public participation and awareness and
computer networking system. . Other supplementary work includes sludge drying beds, rising
mains, replacement of old pipes, installation of dg sets, fire fighting systems, lining of pond. The
extended phase addressed the non-sewerage related aspects, including public participation and
capacity building works.

Effects of YAP I
The main activities under YAP I focused upon improvising the collection and treatment of
wastewater i.e. capacity building exercises. According to a report by World Wide Fund for
nature (WWF) India, ‘Haryana fared better than U.P. as infrastructure work has been completed
and is working well, with plants having insufficient sewage to treat. Treated effluents are
discarded into drains or canals and biogas utilization is poor 9. In both states improved wood-
based crematoria haven’t taken off which were intended to reduce the wood use and time taken
by half. In Delhi, the plan’s outcome is yet invisible, even after so much money has gone into it.

The sewerage component of Delhi was under-estimated and the STP capacity created by the city
government concurrently with YAP remains under-utilized to the extent of 25-45%. This is due
to limitations of the collection system resulting in the flow of untreated sewage into the river.
Similarly, STPs in other reaches were under-utilized due to a combination of limitations in the
collection system and power availability. YAP-I did not adequately addressed non-point sources
of pollution. Moreover, Indian wastewater discharge standards did not mandate STP effluents to
comply the Coliform reduction. Therefore, STPs did not include disinfection treatment. Sewage
treatment capacity under YAP-I were formulated for 1997 population loads without considering
any population projection. For example, YAP-I was able to create 3.5 million Population
Equivalent (PE) of net STP capacity in 14 towns in Haryana and U.P. However, by 2002, the
total population of these towns was close to 6.7 million creating a shortfall of 3.2 million PE.
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YAP II
In order to achieve the desired river standards MoEF, GOI, India launched YAP II in December
2004. It was scheduled to be completed by September, 2008. JBIC signed a new loan agreement
with MoEF on March 31, 2003 based on the works accomplished under YAP I and sanctioned
13.33 billion Yen which was 85% of the total cost estimated to complete YAP II. The total
budget sanctioned for YAP II was INR. 6.24 billion which was distributed to Delhi (INR. 3.87
billion); U.P. ( INR.1.24 billion) and Haryana (INR. 630 million) and for Capacity building
10
exercises (INR. 500 million) (PMC-TEC consortium, 2005). Since the work was not completed
therefore, YAP II has been extended till March 2011. The total STP capacity sanctioned was 189
MLD.

The Yamuna Action Plan Project Phase II is regarded as the core project under the National
River Conservation Plan of Government of India. The project addresses the abatement of severe
pollution of the River Yamuna by raising sewage treatment capacity, caused by rapid population
growth, industrialization and urbanization in the towns of the river basin, which includes Delhi,
the capital of India. Building new and expanding capacity of old sewage treatment plants and
laying and rehabilitating sewers will be done to enhance the treatment capacity particularly in
Delhi and Agra. These works will lead to improvement of the sanitation conditions for the
residents of towns in the river basin. Public participation and awareness activities which are part
of the project shall ensure the residents' recognition of the necessity of water quality conservation
in the River Yamuna, and would establish linkage between the river conservation and their own
living environments.

Background and Necessity of the Project

Since India is undergoing intensive urbanization and industrialization, accompanied by
population growth, the outflow of sewage far exceeds the self-purification capacity of the rivers.
As a result, polluted river water causes sanitation and environmental problems for residents of
towns in their basins. Many rivers in India, such as the River Yamuna, are perceived to be sacred
and are used for holy bathing. They also provide drinking water, and are therefore, closely
involved in the life of people living nearby. Government of India has set a National River
Conservation Plan, and it is working to enhance the water quality of its major rivers as a national

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project. The Yamuna Action Plan is regarded as the core of the National River Conservation
Plan.

Purpose and Description of the Project

The project is Phase II of the Yamuna Action Plan Project, following on from Phase I, which
was provided with 17.773 billion yen in December 1992. It addresses the abatement of
increasingly serious pollution of the River Yamuna by raising sewage treatment capacity, caused
by rapid population growth, industrialization and urbanization in the towns of the river basin,
which includes Delhi, the capital of India. Building new and expanding capacity of old sewage
treatment plants and laying and rehabilitating sewers will be also done to raise treatment capacity
particularly in Delhi and Agra. These works will lead the improvement of the sanitation
conditions for the residents of towns in the river basin.

Through residents of the Delhi and towns throughout the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana
public participation and awareness activities are ensured their recognition of the necessity of
conservation of water quality in the River Yamuna, and of the linkage between the conservation
and their own living environments. Furthermore, the activities will raise awareness of the
improvement of living standards11. The institutional capacity building of the urban local bodies
in each state will also be enhanced with the purpose of improving services and strengthening
their financial and technological aspects. This effort will enhance project impacts by institutional
capacity building at the municipal level.

The proceeds of the loan will be applied to the procurement of materials and equipment for
sewage treatment facilities, civil works and consulting services.

Effects of YAP II
the work continued with the launch of YAP phase II (YAP II) in the year 2004 with the
senctioned cost of 647 crores.The project was completed in 2008 Under YAP II, emphasis was
11

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on the 22-km stretch of Yamuna in Delhi. The Yamuna Action Plan Project Phase II is regarded
as the core project under the National River Conservation Plan of Government of India. The
project addresses the abatement of severe pollution of the River Yamuna by raising sewage
treatment capacity, caused by rapid population growth, industrialization and urbanization. The
plan includes building new and expanding capacity of old sewage treatment plants and laying
and rehabilitating sewers to enhance the treatment capacity particularly in Delhi and Agra. Public
participation and awareness were also a part of project to ensure the residents' recognition of the
necessity of water quality conservation in the River Yamuna, and would establish linkage
between the river conservation and their own living environments. But, there had been no
concrete results even though Rs.1,500crore had been spent through phases one and two of the
Yamuna Action Plan. It has been observed that despite of the continuous efforts to minimize the
pollution load still the BOD is not decreasing.

YAP III
The Yamuna Action Plan Phase - III project for Delhi has been approved by the Ministry in
December, 2011 at an estimated cost of Rs 1656 crore with loan assistance from Japan
International Cooperation Agency. Besides this, two projects have also been sanctioned by the
Ministry in July, 2012 at an estimated cost of Rs. 217.87 crore for taking up works for pollution
abatement of river Yamuna in towns of Sonepat and Panipat in Haryana which are located on
upstream of Wazirabad in Delhi12. 

Under the YAP-III, it is proposed to rehabilitate the damaged trunk sewers to maximize the
utilization of available treatment capacity and modernize the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in
three catchment areas of Delhi namely Okhla, Kondli and Rithala, Construction of a new state of
art STP in place of old STP of 136 million litres per day capacity at Okhla and to equip them
with tertiary level treatment facilities to achieve treated effluent quality of 10 mg/1 for
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) so as to improve the
water quality of river Yamuna. These works will be integral to the Sewerage Master Plan being
prepared by Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The project will be implemented by DJB under the
supervision of the Department of Urban Development, Government of NCT of Delhi. 

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The implementation of the project shall improve the water quality of the river along with
improved aesthetics of the area through tackling of sewage generated from identified catchments
of Delhi. 

Government of India has been implementing Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) with assistance from
Japan International Cooperation Agency, Government of Japan since 1993 to supplement the
efforts of State Governments in addressing the problem of pollution of river Yamuna. A total of
276 schemes including 38 sewage treatment plants have been completed in 21 towns of Uttar
Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi and 753.25 million litres per day of sewage treatment capacity has
been created so far. 

Conclusion
The key tasks for the river authority shall be regular monitoring of water resources and review of
implementation, and ensuring key stakeholder participation i.e., industry, non-governmental
organization, local community and other representative groups, into the decision making at all
levels. The policy instruments identified above shall be used appropriately to distinguish the
varying approach in case of point sources (e.g., industry) vis-à-vis non-point sources (e.g.,
agriculture), different taxation principles (e.g., pollution taxes or permits in case of industrial
waste water, and pricing or taxation in case of domestic water consumption).

The CPCB Study (1978) indicated that a major cause of pollution was discharge of domestic
wastewater into the river from nearby towns and habitations which contribute about two-thirds of
the pollution load, the remaining one-third being contributed by industries and agriculture
activities.

Organic pollutants can be removed or minimised by proper treatment of sewage and treated
sewage is required to be disinfected to kill the pathogenic bacteria before it is finally discharged
into a water body. Based on the CPCB study and the subsequent studies of NEERI, the
Government of India decided to take up pollution control measures for Yamuna river and
requested the Government of Japan in December-1990 for a loan assistance for implementation
of an Action Plan. It was proposed that the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) would be on the lines of
ambitious project Ganga Action Plan (GAP).
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The Yamuna Action Plan is an intervention but it is executed as a project and with a focus, once
again, was given to control of pollution by treatment of water, rather than, prevention of river
water pollution.

A dedicated institution that takes holistic approach to river water management is required here.
Essentially, a river basin authority needs to be set up by the Central government under the
Central Water Commission to function independently to coordinate with State and Central
government agencies in terms of ensuring the undertaking of the activities and monitoring the
progress.

The said river basin authority shall take care of the river water quality and quantity by taking a
regional approach and use economic approaches to policy making with wider stakeholder
participation based on the scheme outlined and discussed earlier. The authority shall, thus,
formulate goals, and set objectives, evaluate various options for water management, and evaluate
them and their alternatives in a benefit-cost analysis framework using economic valuation as a
major tool to measure, implement action plan using various policy instruments to bring in
effective action.

Once established, various options could be explored by the board of the authority, and economic,
but efficient options to pool up resources and use them optimally in meeting the objectives shall
be explored by it and implement with the help of various stakeholder groups. The setting up of
such board in an integrated framework shall be a first step towards improving river water quality
and quantity on part of government, while effective functioning of the board shall be brought in
by various mechanisms.

The present classification of river stretches based on use quality can be a first method of choice
that could be expanded later on to include several other parameters. Moreover, the authority
needs to consider economic as well as technical/ engineering parameters in making appropriate
choice, which brings forth the importance of economic valuation. Economic Valuation takes a
careful approach towards the resource and the question of measurement in money terms; first, it
undertakes a careful study of the services/functions of rendered by the resource, then the value of
such services are assessed by various methods in literature e.g., Munasinghe (1995).

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Water quality is an important aspect of resource value and conservation of it needs to be justified
through benefit-cost analysis. While measuring benefits and costs, public benefits appear as
formidable to identify and measure, more so, when public policies are aimed at improving status
of water resources - qualitatively or quantitatively. This is because of many biophysical,
engineering, and socio-economic attributes that affect public benefits form such improvement.

Bibliography

1. www.mnre.gov.in

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2. www.environmentalportal.in
3. www.renewablenergyworld.com
4. www.mapsofindia.com
5. www.envirofor.nic.in
6. http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jestft/papers/vol10-issue4/Version-1/I1004017176.pdf
7. www.yamunariver.org

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