Amit Shah unveils Rs8,941-crore Yamuna revival projects

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 43 Delhi Jal Board projects worth Rs8,941.22 crore, with a major focus on preventing untreated sewage from entering the Yamuna and improving Delhi’s water and sewerage infrastructure.
Launched in the Najafgarh area, the package includes 10 completed projects worth Rs2,827.11 crore and 33 projects worth Rs6,114.11 crore for which foundation stones were laid. The Delhi government aims to complete the projects over the next two to two-and-a-half years, with the objective of stopping untreated wastewater from flowing into the river through city drains.A key component is a 124-million-gallon-per-day (MGD) sewage treatment plant at Okhla, costing Rs1,161 crore. The package also includes the upgradation of eight existing sewage treatment plants at Rs1,041 crore, increasing their combined treatment capacity from 78.2 MGD to 140.8 MGD and benefiting around 78.5 lakh people.

#WATCH | Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "For 30 years, Congress and the Kejriwal government discharged sewage into the Yamuna. Around 2,000 tonnes of waste went to the Yamuna River daily. Industrial waste from Haryana and polluted water from Uttar Pradesh also contributed to the problem during their term. Now, with BJP governments in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, we have developed a coordinated, time-bound roadmap to clean the river. By 2029, we aim to present a cleaner Yamuna to the people."

— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2026

To improve sewage management in Outer Delhi, the government will construct 29 decentralised sewage treatment plants and pumping stations at a cost of Rs3,113.67 crore. These facilities will cover 358 unauthorised colonies and 113 villages, benefiting approximately 36.29 lakh residents.
The projects also include a 1,034-km sewer network worth Rs1,691 crore to extend connectivity to areas currently outside the sewerage system. A 477-MLD water treatment plant at Chandrawal, estimated to cost Rs298.3 crore, is expected to serve around 22 lakh people, replacing facilities built in 1935 and 1955. A 4.5-km trunk drain at Mundka is another major component, with an estimated cost of Rs225.02 crore.
Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma has emphasised that cleaning riverbanks and ghats alone cannot revive the Yamuna unless untreated sewage is prevented from entering it. The government’s strategy focuses on collecting, treating and reusing wastewater to address pollution at its source.The infrastructure push follows the ‘Chalo Yamuna’ campaign held on October 18, which saw more than 35,000 participants clean 70 locations along the river. According to the Delhi government, the drive removed 76,755 kg of dry waste and 9,850 kg of green waste and water hyacinth.The government is also encouraging public participation through initiatives promoting proper waste disposal, legal sewer connections and water conservation. Under the proposed ‘Birthday with Yamuna’ initiative, designated huts will be developed along the riverbanks where people can celebrate birthdays while participating in cleanliness activities.Verma has said he will celebrate his birthday with the Yamuna on November 7 as part of the campaign.

Delhi: Minister Parvesh Verma says, "Today, projects worth ₹8,941 crore by the Delhi Jal Board, including sewer connections, the laying of new sewer lines and the construction of decentralized sewage treatment plants (DSTPs), were inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor..."

— IANS (@ians_india) October 22, 2026

The Delhi government expects visible improvements in the Yamuna within around 1.5 years, with more substantial changes anticipated after the projects are completed. The success of the initiative, however, will depend on timely execution, effective sewage treatment and sustained efforts to prevent pollution from entering the river.