On April 9, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a round table discussion on the ‘Significance of Sri Yamuna in the Culture and History of Bharat’. Prof Rajiv Sinha, Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur; Shri Shehzad Poonawalla, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson; Dr Md Hafizur Rahaman, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; and Shri Deepanshu Aggarwal, Advisor to Hon’ble Minister Parvesh Verma, Cabinet Minister, Irrigation & Flood Control and Water, Government of Delhi, were the panelists in the discussion. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF, delivered the opening remarks in which he briefly talked about the relevance of the River Yamuna in India’s culture and the steps taken by the current government of Delhi to rejuvenate the River Yamuna. Dr Gupta also highlighted the dire state of the Yamuna River and urged the people living near the river to be more sensitive. Dr Gupta highlighted the paradox between public reverence and civic irresponsibility. He strongly asserted that the problem lies not just with the government but with the people who worship the river but fail to protect it. He also criticized the superficial beautification efforts, which do little to address the root issues of encroachment, unscientific urban development, and lack of sustainable policy implementation. Dr Gupta stated that rejuvenating the Yamuna is not merely an environmental goal but a civilizational one.

Ms Neera Misra, Chairperson of the Draupadi Dream Trust, talked about the critical state of the Yamuna River and outlined a comprehensive roadmap for its revival. Her vision integrated public participation, government collaboration, traditional ecological wisdom, and scientific intervention, highlighting the Yamuna as the living identity. She highlighted that the Yamuna in Delhi carried virtually no natural water, having been overwhelmed by sewage and waste, and metaphorically described the river as being in an "ICU". Irrigation needs, particularly for unsuitable crops like rice in Punjab, led to unsustainable demands on river water, altering regional ecosystems.

Ms. Misra outlined the following as essential for Yamuna’s revival:

• Restoring Original Source Flow: The river must reconnect with its Himalayan sources, ensuring a steady ecological flow vital for its health.
• Reviving ancient ponds and wells along the Yamuna River.
• Strict regulation against dumping of non-biodegradable materials.
• Mandatory rainwater harvesting systems should be enforced on all construction along the river.
• Implementation of strict individual water meters in residential complexes to foster accountability.
• Diverting treated wastewater for industrial use instead of discharging it into the Yamuna.
• Recognizing the Yamuna River as a "living being" with legal rights to survival and protection.

Dr Rajiv Sinha, a leading river scientist with decades of experience studying rivers across India, presented a comprehensive framework for understanding and addressing the ecological and hydrological challenges of the Yamuna River. He emphasized that his views were rooted in both science and policy. Dr Sinha proposed a nuanced, systems-based approach to river restoration, especially relevant for heavily modified rivers like the Yamuna.

Dr Sinha laid out foundational concepts critical to any river restoration effort. He emphasized that rivers should not be viewed as mere channels of flowing water but as complex ecosystems comprising multiple interconnected components. These include the riverscape—consisting of the main channel, tributaries, and secondary streams; the floodscape—which encompasses adjacent wetlands, ponds, and floodplain ecosystems; and the functional process zones, representing the biotic interactions that keep rivers ecologically healthy. These components together form the riverine landscape.

Dr Sinha presented parameters for river connectivity, essential for a healthy river. These include longitudinal (upstream-downstream), lateral (river-floodplain), vertical (river-groundwater), and others. When any of these connections are disrupted, the river system begins to degrade. Fragmentation caused by dams, embankments, urbanization, and encroachment hinders nutrient cycling, sediment flow, and fish migration. He stressed that floodplain connectivity, in particular, is vital for maintaining nutrient supply, groundwater recharge, and biodiversity. He warned that urban expansion into floodplain areas significantly alters land cover, reduces reactive surfaces, and impairs natural recharge systems.

Dr Sinha advocated for a broader “river space” concept—sometimes called a “river corridor”—which recognizes the spatial needs of a river beyond its active channel. Just as humans require physical space to function, rivers too need lateral and longitudinal space to perform ecological and geomorphological roles. The healthiest rivers are those with fully functioning floodplains. However, floodplains also attract human settlement due to their fertile soils and groundwater resources, leading to a conflict between ecological needs and human habitation. Balancing this tension is essential for sustainable river management.

To illustrate the extent of degradation, Dr Sinha presented satellite imagery of the Yamuna River from 1965 to 2023. The 1965 image, derived from declassified U.S. spy satellite data, showed a free-flowing Yamuna with active floodplains and natural wetlands. In contrast, the 2023 imagery revealed a highly confined river, with floodplains encroached upon and the river essentially reduced to a narrow, degraded channel. This drastic transformation underscores the intensity of anthropogenic pressures over the past several decades.

He pointed out that the Yamuna today suffers from nearly every form of environmental degradation: intrusion into river space, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, disrupted connectivity, and altered land use patterns. However, these problems are not unique to the Yamuna. They are symptomatic of a broader crisis affecting rivers across India due to unregulated development and mismanagement.

A particularly grave concern, according to Dr Sinha, is the multi-dimensional disconnection of the Yamuna. It is fragmented longitudinally due to barrages and dams that interrupt natural flows, laterally due to floodplain encroachment, and vertically due to over-extraction of groundwater. The vertical disconnection is especially damaging. Because groundwater levels have dropped dramatically, even monsoon floods fail to recharge aquifers, and instead, the river continuously loses water to the depleted water table. This results in a “losing river”, especially in the middle stretches near Delhi, where surface water is consistently absorbed by dry subsurface aquifers, undermining efforts to revive flow through artificial releases from dams.

Recognizing the irreversible nature of certain human impacts, Dr Sinha argued against the notion of restoring rivers to their pristine, pre-industrial conditions. Instead, he proposed a rehabilitation approach, aimed at ensuring rivers retain their essential ecological functions even if they cannot be fully restored. He compared rivers to human patients—while not all can return to perfect health, many can be rehabilitated to a functional state.

Dr Sinha introduced the concept of river health as analogous to human health. A healthy river is not just one that carries water but one that maintains ecological processes, nutrient cycling, biodiversity, and connectivity. Restoration strategies must therefore be grounded in the river’s natural morphological, hydrological, and ecological processes. Importantly, he highlighted that rivers are dynamic systems; they evolve over time. Restoration efforts must account for this dynamism, distinguishing between natural change and human-induced degradation.

Dr Sinha proposed the following points for river rehabilitation:

• Develop a Protocol for River-Floodplain Zoning: Clearly demarcate and protect the river space, ensuring adequate room for ecological functioning.
• Assess Land Use and Land Cover Changes: Understand how urbanization and agriculture have altered the landscape over time, and use this data to guide interventions.
• Formulate Policy Based on Existing Conditions: Identify hotspots of floodplain degradation and its drivers, natural and anthropogenic, and design site-specific strategies for restoration.
• Identify Hotspots of Floodplain Degradation: Prioritize site-specific actions where damage is most severe and where restoration is still possible.
• Restore connectivity of the river in all directions:
• Longitudinal: Review barrage operation policies and modify the design.
• Lateral: Remove floodplain encroachments.
• Vertical: Revive all water bodies, construct recharge ponds, and regulate groundwater extraction.
• Determine the Current State and Recovery Potential: Develop criteria for a comprehensive river health assessment based on geomorphic, hydrologic and ecosystem services. Understand the river’s condition and assess whether meaningful recovery is feasible.
• Promote Process-Based Restoration: Base interventions on the river’s natural flow, sediment transport, ecological needs, and geomorphic behaviour.
• Integrate Science, Policy, and Community Involvement: Encourage a multi-stakeholder approach that combines rigorous science with practical governance and local engagement.
• Assess the recovery potential and prioritize reaches for action (mitigation/rehabilitation) - Future Yamuna.
• Engage the local community in restoration efforts and improve public awareness for a healthy river.

Dr Sinha reiterated the importance of viewing rivers as integrated systems. Fragmented approaches—focusing only on pollution control or water flow—miss the bigger picture. Restoring a river requires systems thinking, long-term commitment, and the humility to accept that full recovery may not always be possible. However, with a realistic understanding of each river’s baseline condition, a clear policy framework, and a commitment to ecological principles, rivers like the Yamuna can still be rehabilitated into functional, living systems.

Shri Shehzad Poonawalla, National Spokesperson of the BJP, emphasized the critical need to shift public consciousness from viewing Yamuna as merely a water body to revering her as a living deity, deeply rooted in the Sanatan civilizational ethos. Shri Poonawalla invoked Yamuna’s spiritual, historical, and ecological significance while acknowledging the stark environmental degradation she currently faces. He described Yamuna as not just a sacred river or a maternal symbol but as Kalindi—the daughter of Surya, sister of Yama, and the divine companion of Lord Krishna. Yamuna is mentioned in the Rigveda, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Bhagavatam as a purifier and a symbol of divine grace. Yamuna is mentioned in the Pandavas' journey to Krishna’s raasleelas in Vrindavan and her flowing through ancient Indraprastha. However, this divine entity, he lamented, is now in the ICU of ecological health.

Backing this claim with alarming data, Shri Poonawalla highlighted that the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the river has reached 70 mg/L, far exceeding the safe limit of 3 mg/L. Fecal coliform counts stand at a staggering 84 lakh MPN per 100 ml, against the permissible limit of 2,500. Dissolved oxygen, crucial for aquatic life, is at zero. Over 800 million liters of raw sewage are discharged into the river daily, transforming the Yamuna into a chemical cocktail with excessive levels of lead and chromium, especially downstream of Wazirabad.

Shri Poonawalla held years of administrative neglect by the previous Delhi Government under Arvind Kejriwal responsible for the river’s decay. Despite a central government’s allocation of over ₹6,500 crore between 2015 and 2024 for river rejuvenation, outcomes have been negligible. Only 14 of 37 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are functioning within pollution control norms, and drains like Najafgarh and Barapulla continue to discharge untreated sewage into Yamuna.

Shri Poonawalla outlined a multi-agency, mission-mode approach to clean and revive Yamuna. He pointed to early signs of success, including the removal of 1,300 metric tons of garbage from the riverbed in the recent days and ongoing cleaning at sites like Vasudev Ghat, ITO Barrage, and Signature Bridge. Modern equipment such as trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredgers are being deployed, and parallel cleaning of major drains is underway to prevent further pollution. A key component of the revival plan is upgrading the sewage infrastructure. This includes the construction of 40 new Decentralized STPs (DSTPs), with ₹500 crore already allocated for their implementation. An additional ₹250 crore has been earmarked for replacing outdated sewer lines and ₹250 crore for the modernization of water treatment facilities. Shri Poonawalla also announced that the Territorial Army will deploy a 94-member unit to protect the Yamuna floodplains from encroachment and dumping.

Shri Poonawalla affirmed that the rejuvenation of the Yamuna is a cornerstone of the BJP's civilizational agenda. Citing cultural initiatives, he mentioned that the Yamuna Aarti at Vasudev Ghat has now become a regular spiritual practice. The newly elected Delhi government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, began its term with a symbolic and spiritual gesture by performing a Yamuna Aarti, reaffirming a sense of ownership and devotion to the river. The civilizational consciousness and reverence of Yamuna must go hand in hand with practical action. He stressed that the restoration of Yamuna cannot be achieved by the government alone—it requires a citizen’s movement.

To institutionalize this vision, Shri Poonawalla endorsed the Indraprastha Declaration proposed by the DDT (Delhi Dialogue Trust), which seeks legal recognition of Yamuna as a living being and a national river. He advocated for ensuring a 30-40% ecological flow of original Yamuna waters, complete separation of sewage and river water, and beautification and cultural activation of riverbanks, similar to the Sabarmati Riverfront model.

Shri Poonawalla presented a formula for Yamuna’s rejuvenation using the acronym YAMUNA: ‘Y’ for engaging the ‘Youth’ in the revival process; ‘A’ for conducting widespread ‘Awareness’ campaigns; ‘M’ for instilling the spirit of treating Yamuna as ‘Ma’ (Mother); ‘U’ for ensuring ‘Urgent’ and coordinated action; ‘N’ and ‘A’ for initiating a ‘Nagarik Andolan’ (citizens’ movement). Further, he suggested the integration of AI-based water quality sensors, real-time pollution tracking apps, and crowdsourced reporting mechanisms.

Schools and universities, he said, should be mobilized through immersive AI, AR, and VR experiences to build emotional and educational engagement with the river. Other measures included installing sensor-based waste bins, deploying CCTV monitoring systems, encouraging local cleanup drives, and promoting ghat adoption by community groups. Yamuna’s rejuvenation is not merely an environmental project but a civilizational imperative. The vision must go beyond policy and engineering—to become a living, breathing cultural and spiritual movement led by citizens themselves.

Dr Md Hafizur Rahaman from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi talked about the urgent need for a holistic, scientific, and coordinated approach for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River and urban ecosystems. Dr Rahaman emphasized the significance of integrating technological innovation, research, and heritage consciousness in shaping a sustainable and “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047. Dr Rahaman talked about the research efforts currently underway at IIT Delhi, particularly within departments such as Biotechnical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Hydrology. Although these studies—often initiated through student research projects—have generated valuable insights into issues like oxygen depletion, biochemical oxygen demand, and toxic pollutants in the Yamuna. He stated that these efforts are scattered and lack a comprehensive, interdisciplinary framework necessary for meaningful impact. River ecosystems can be better understood by combining high-resolution imagery from low-orbit satellites with the hydrological studies.

According to Dr Rahaman, the restoration of rivers like the Yamuna is not only a matter of environmental concern but also of cultural and civilizational importance. He argued that rivers are integral to the identity and life cycles of urban civilizations. Just as London is defined by the Thames and Paris by the Seine, Delhi must re-establish its deep-rooted connection with the Yamuna.

Dr Rahaman proposed a structured academic research program that could bring together institutions such as IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur and IIT Ropar. This program, he suggested, should investigate the chemical, geological, and ecological aspects of the Yamuna’s degradation while employing emerging tools like artificial intelligence. Dr Rahaman mentioned the creation of a prototype data bank that tracks patterns of river deterioration over time and allows for scenario modeling. Such efforts, he noted, could help policymakers assess future risks and design better interventions.

Dr Rahaman also called for engaging with the Ministry of Urban Development and local governance bodies to initiate long-term, systemic reforms. These should include measures such as rainwater harvesting at household and community levels, rejuvenation of ponds and lakes, protection of riverbanks, and development of sustainable urban planning models. Dr Rahaman linked these environmental goals with India's broader developmental vision. A “Viksit Bharat”, he asserted, must evolve not just economically, but also ecologically, sociologically, and culturally. He emphasized that preserving rivers is not merely a matter of environmental concern but a civilizational imperative that encompasses heritage, scientific knowledge, and community values.

Shri Deepanshu Aggarwal, Advisor to Hon’ble Minister Parvesh Verma (Cabinet Minister, Irrigation & Flood Control and Water, Government of Delhi), offered a comprehensive overview of both the challenges facing Delhi’s water infrastructure and the roadmap envisioned by the current administration. Shri Aggarwal began by classifying the city’s water-related infrastructure into three key categories: Water Treatment Plants (WTPs), Chemical Treatment Plants (CTPs), and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). He acknowledged that, with the exception of a few WTPs, the overall state of these facilities has been dismal. The new BJP government in Delhi in its recent budget has prioritized the revival and modernization of this infrastructure, with significant funds earmarked for both the construction of new plants and the repair of existing ones under the Water and Irrigation & Flood Control departments.

Highlighting an unusual insight, Shri Aggarwal noted that the condition of the Yamuna River had briefly improved during the COVID-19 pandemic. This, he explained, was primarily due to the suspension of industrial activity, which halted the discharge of chemical effluents into the river. During this time, the already non-functional CTPs faced no additional load, inadvertently offering a glimpse into what reduced industrial pollution could achieve. This, he emphasized, revealed the critical role that industrial discharge plays in the river’s degradation.

Shri Aggarwal emphasized public awareness programs, engagement of the youth in cleanliness drives, and treating the Yamuna as a sacred entity. In alignment with this, the creation of a comprehensive documentary tracing the Yamuna’s journey—from its origin to its confluence with the Ganga and eventual discharge into the ocean. This, Shri Aggarwal stressed, would mark the first crucial step in building public consciousness. He noted that for most Delhiites, the Yamuna is either invisible in daily life or relegated to peripheral geographic labels like “Jamnapar”. There is a need to reintroduce the river into the popular imagination as a living, integral part of the city.

Among his practical suggestions was a public engagement model that encourages the adoption of individual riverfront ghats by non-government stakeholders. This approach, he argued, would distribute responsibility and create a sense of ownership among civil society groups. He acknowledged that the current governmental apparatus, while capable of managing short-term operational tasks, lacks the capacity for long-term, strategic planning. For this reason, he emphasized the urgent need for deep collaboration with academia.

Shri Aggarwal proposed the creation of a dedicated expert body that would serve not just as an advisory panel but with real executive powers. This body would include members from government agencies like the Delhi Jal Board, Irrigation & Flood Control Department, and PWD, as well as academic experts who can provide real-time, scientifically grounded inputs. The envisioned body would differ from conventional committees; it would be outcome-orientated and held accountable for delivering measurable results. Shri Aggarwal affirmed the government's commitment to bringing schools and colleges onboard, integrating them into both awareness drives and hands-on initiatives such as ghat cleaning, environmental monitoring, and educational tours. He reiterated the government’s resolve to act with urgency and collaboration, bridging administrative, academic, and civil society efforts to ensure the river’s long-term health and Delhi’s sustainable future. This engaging talk was followed by a question-and-answer session, and the discussion concluded with the closing remarks by Dr Arvind Gupta.

Event Date 
April 9, 2025