Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 3: Delhi's environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday announced a notable improvement in the Yamuna river’s water quality for the month of July, attributing the development to the sustained efforts under the government’s Yamuna cleaning initiative.

“This is not a seasonal change but the outcome of dedicated and continuous work,” Sirsa stated, referring to the findings from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

The government has allocated Rs 500 crore for Yamuna rejuvenation, focusing on upgrading sewage treatment plants, intercepting major drains, and preventing untreated waste from entering the river. Water samples were collected from eight critical locations — including Palla, Wazirabad, ISBT Bridge, ITO Bridge, Nizamuddin Bridge and Okhla Barrage — for monitoring.

According to the DPCC report, there has been a sharp decline in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, a key indicator of organic pollution. At ITO Bridge, BOD fell from 70 mg/l in June to 20 mg/l in July, while at Okhla Barrage, it dropped from 46 mg/l to 8 mg/l.

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels also showed significant improvement — falling from 186 mg/l to 54 mg/l at ITO Bridge and from 100 mg/l to 30 mg/l at Okhla Barrage.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels, which had nearly vanished in parts of the river in June, increased markedly at points such as Palla and Wazirabad, suggesting healthier aquatic conditions.

“We are not celebrating just yet, but the results confirm that our strategy is working. Delhi’s environmental transformation is progressing steadily,” the minister added.

Sirsa further linked this progress to the broader goals outlined in the Environment Action Plan 2025. Delhi, he noted, experienced 29 ‘good’ or ‘satisfactory’ air quality days out of 31 in July — making it the cleanest July on record for the national capital.