PM Modi reviews Yamuna rejuvenation efforts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a meeting on Yamuna rejuvenation in signals that the ruling BJP is keen to deliver on its key poll promise in Delhi.

The PM in a late-night tweet on Thursday said “Yesterday, chaired a meeting on cleaning and rejuvenating the Yamuna as well as addressing drinking water-related issues of Delhi. The Centre will work closely with the Delhi Government to ensure world-class infrastructure and ‘Ease of Living’ for my sisters and brothers of Delhi.”

At the high-level review meeting to assess the progress of the Yamuna cleaning and rejuvenation efforts, the PM focused on ongoing and future strategies and called for enhanced public participation, besides the use of advanced technology to monitor pollution control efforts.

The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister for Jal Shakti CR Paatil, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other key officials.

An agency-wise action plan was reviewed, detailing short-term (3 months), medium-term (up to 1.5 years) and long-term (1.5 to 3 years) activities to clean the Yamuna.

Key areas discussed included drain and solid waste management, sewage and industrial waste treatment, septage and dairy waste control, floodplain protection, green riverfront development and improving river flow. Each component was accompanied by specific timelines to ensure focused implementation.

Emphasising the need for sustainable water infrastructure, the Prime Minister underlined the urgency of rehabilitating Delhi’s drinking water system to reduce leakages and non-revenue water. It was also decided that Delhi would prepare an urban river management plan aligned with the City Master Plan for holistic water management.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of improving the experience of Delhiites during the Chhath Puja festival, calling it a cultural moment that reflects the health of the river. He stressed the need for a “Jan Bhagidari Movement” — a people’s campaign — to create a deeper emotional and cultural connection with the Yamuna. This would involve enlisting volunteers for river rejuvenation and organising public events around the riverbanks. Special attention was also suggested for the culturally significant Braj region, with ideas to incorporate the Braj Yatra into the public movement.

A significant thrust of the meeting was on leveraging technology for accountability and effectiveness. The Prime Minister urged the use of real-time micro-level data and space technology to monitor drain flows and sewage treatment plant performance. He directed that pollution control planning should be data-driven and that governance mechanisms be strengthened to ensure functioning of existing infrastructure.

The review also covered the Yamuna’s entire course — from the Haryana stretch through Delhi to Prayagraj — emphasising an integrated and inter-state approach to the river's rejuvenation.