The Delhi government is devising a plan to revive the Yamuna River by dredging, aiming to increase its water-carrying capacity and mitigate urban flooding. The government intends to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for approval to commence the dredging process.

The Plan Dredging involves excavating silt, sludge, and waste materials that have accumulated underwater over the years. The stretch of the Yamuna River from Wazirabad to Okhla, which spans 22 kilometers, is the primary focus of this initiative. This particular segment has been identified as critical and has been the subject of numerous policies and planning efforts. Delhi is responsible for 76% of the Yamuna's pollution load, despite the river only spanning 52 kilometers in the region, making this intervention vital.

It is expected that dredging will address the recurring urban flooding issues experienced in the capital. During periods of high river levels, areas near the riverbank have faced urban flooding due to the reduced capacity of regulator drains. The dredging work is likely to increase the water-holding capacity of the raw water pond by approximately 100 Million Gallons Per Day (MGD). After dredging, the Yamuna's water storage capacity is expected to double, which will reduce the problem of overflowing drains and the backflow of river water into the city.

Governmental Support and Financial Allocations The Delhi government has demonstrated its commitment to cleaning the Yamuna River and improving the city's sewage infrastructure by announcing a ₹1,500-crore plan. This plan includes constructing 40 decentralized sewage treatment plants (STPs), upgrading existing STPs, and investing in advanced machinery to manage waste and pollution. In addition, the government has requested ₹2,000 crore in financial assistance from the Centre to bring the capital's water and sewage infrastructure up to international standards. A budget of ₹40 crores has been allocated for purchasing modern equipment such as trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredging machinery.

Challenges and Considerations Dredging in rivers is generally restricted due to concerns about ecosystem damage and bank destabilization. Permissions have been granted for dredging sections of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Yamuna rivers. The Delhi government is preparing documentation to support its case, demonstrating the necessity for dredging and its commitment to adhering to all environmental regulations.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) had previously planned to desilt the Wazirabad pond but had to postpone the project due to the monsoon season. The DJB issued a tender for ₹25 crore to remove approximately 3.63 lakh cubic meters of silt from the pond.

Other Yamuna River Revival Projects The Yamuna Action Plan, a collaborative effort between the governments of India and Japan initiated in 1993, stands as one of India's most extensive river restoration projects. Furthermore, the Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi government have intensified their efforts to rejuvenate the Yamuna, undertaking 11 restoration projects spanning 1,600 hectares across its floodplain.