Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched and inaugurated Yamuna rejuvenation projects worth Rs 8,941 crore in Delhi, covering sewage treatment plants, sewer rehabilitation and drainage infrastructure. The government aims to clean the river by May 2029 through coordinated development initiatives.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for projects worth Rs 8,941 crore aimed at rejuvenating the Yamuna River in Delhi, reiterating the government’s commitment to cleaning the river by May 2029. The initiatives focus on sewage treatment, sewer rehabilitation, drainage improvement and expanding household sewer connections to prevent untreated wastewater from entering the river.
Addressing the event, Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had convened a major meeting soon after the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Delhi to outline his vision for purifying the Yamuna. The meeting involved the Delhi government and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, he said.
According to the Home Minister, the government had achieved more than 40 per cent progress in its efforts within a relatively short period. He said 10 projects were inaugurated and work was initiated on 33 projects during Thursday’s programme.
Shah stated that the projects, collectively valued at Rs 8,941 crore, would help treat several lakh litres of wastewater before it flows into the Yamuna. The initiatives include upgrading existing sewage treatment plants (STPs), constructing new treatment facilities and strengthening sewerage infrastructure across different parts of the national capital.
The government has also established a decentralised sewage treatment plant pumping station and initiated work to connect sewer lines to individual households. Shah said sewer rehabilitation, wastewater tapping and drainage improvement were important components of the broader rejuvenation programme.
Expressing confidence in the government’s timeline, the Home Minister said the ongoing initiatives would help achieve the target of cleaning the Yamuna before May 2029. The projects are intended to reduce the discharge of untreated sewage into the river and improve the overall effectiveness of Delhi’s wastewater management system.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta attended the event along with other dignitaries.
During his address, Shah also criticised the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government in Delhi, accusing it of failing to take adequate measures to clean the Yamuna and address the capital’s waste-management challenges. He said previous administrations had frequently cited a lack of assistance as a reason for their inability to deliver on key commitments.
The Home Minister further alleged that the earlier government had focused on political protests rather than addressing major civic problems. He contrasted its record with the current administration’s efforts to reduce the large landfill sites at Okhla, Bhalswa and Ghazipur.
According to Shah, the BJP-led Delhi government, working with the central government under Prime Minister Modi, has cleared 2.17 crore metric tonnes of garbage and reclaimed 100 acres of land previously occupied by waste. He said the height of the garbage mountains at Okhla and Bhalswa had been reduced by 30 to 40 metres, while the Ghazipur landfill had been lowered by 10 to 15 metres.
Shah also said the government planned to develop gardens on land recovered from the landfill sites over the next two years, presenting the initiative as part of a broader effort to improve Delhi’s urban environment.
Highlighting other environmental development initiatives, the Home Minister referred to projects such as Asita East, Bansera and Vasudev Ghat near Sarai Kale Khan and ITO. He said these projects reflected the government’s focus on improving public spaces alongside environmental restoration.
Shah added that a three-year action plan had been prepared to provide sewerage connections to every household in Delhi. The plan also aims to improve wastewater disposal and ensure access to clean drinking water for residents.
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The Rs 8,941-crore Yamuna rejuvenation programme represents a major infrastructure push aimed at addressing Delhi’s longstanding sewage and river-pollution challenges. Its effectiveness will depend on the timely completion and operation of treatment plants, the expansion of sewer connections and sustained monitoring of wastewater entering the river.
The government has set May 2029 as its target for cleaning the Yamuna, with the newly launched projects expected to play a significant role in improving sewage treatment and environmental management across the national capital.
