90% drop in faecal coliform levels in Yamuna, says govt

Describing it as a “historic achievement,” Water and PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma has announced a significant improvement in the quality of the Yamuna, with faecal coliform levels falling by more than 90 per cent in just seven months.

“While the previous government spent ten years making announcements, we have delivered visible results within seven months,” said Minister Verma. “We had promised to clean the Yamuna within three years, and I am proud to say that four out of eight sampling points have already reached the permissible limit,” he added.

Faecal coliform bacteria, originating from human or animal waste, are a key indicator of water contamination. High levels suggest the presence of untreated sewage in water bodies. Until 2024, stretches of the Yamuna recorded levels running into millions. The current government, Verma said, had implemented “decisive, science-based measures” to halt the flow of untreated sewage and ensure only treated water entered the river.

The Minister noted that the Delhi Jal Board previously treated only about 400 MGD of sewage, with the remainder flowing untreated into the Yamuna. The government has now launched a fast-track plan to bridge this 400 MGD gap by upgrading and expanding sewage treatment capacity, intercepting major drains discharging into the river, and enforcing real-time monitoring and strict compliance of all Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).

Additionally, nearly 20 lakh metric tonnes of silt have been removed from key drains to improve flow and reduce the accumulation of pollutants.

According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), faecal coliform levels have declined sharply since 2024, with four of eight sampling points now within or close to the permissible limit of 2,500 MPN/100 ml — a milestone achieved in record time.

Responding to remarks by AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, Minister Verma said, “Mr Bharadwaj selectively cited the October 9 DPCC report but failed to mention that during his tenure, locations such as Asgarpur recorded faecal coliform levels as high as 80 lakh. Today, that same location has dropped to just 8,000 — a clear reflection of our government’s efforts.”

He also emphasised improvements in transparency: “Earlier, these reports were not even made public. Today, every test result is available online for citizens to see — that’s the difference between opacity and accountability.”

Underlining the government’s results-driven approach, Verma added, “This is not a campaign for optics; it’s a mission for outcomes. Every Minister, MP, MLA, and Councillor is personally inspecting ghats and drains to ensure on-ground impact.”