New Delhi: The dumping of solid waste and gaps in wastewater interception have emerged as the key concerns while monitoring the drains flowing into the Yamuna.Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which assessed the pollution in the Yamuna in Delhi between May 2025 and April 2026, found solid waste at 32 locations, while tapping arrangements in 11 drains were either inadequate or not functioning for several months.It identified 12 drains as major pollution hotspots. The monitoring indicated the presence of untreated or partially treated sewage and industrial effluents. These are the Palam drain, Ramesh Nagar drain, Nangloi drain, Leg 1 drain, the outfall of New Moti Nagar drain, Mungeshpur drain, Drain number 6, New Drain (AB7), Shahdara drain, Shahdara Link Road drain, Sahibabad drain and the Trunk Drain number 1.The joint monitoring was initiated under Namami Gange programme by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), in coordination with CPCB, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB).The programme covered 52 sampling locations across the Sahibi river, also known as the Najafgarh drain, Shahdara drain and their associated drains.The report found considerably higher levels of pollutants in the Shahdara drain and interstate drains. It also reported an increasing trend since May 2025. Thirteen major drains were monitored.Sahibabad drain near Shaheed Nagar metro station on GT Road recorded the highest average biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), exceeding 250 mg/L. In the Sahibi river network, the New Moti Nagar drain outflow recorded the highest average BOD at 232.4 mg/L and average COD at 551.8 mg/L.“Another observation is that water quality of the Sahibi in terms of BOD value degrades after Najafgarh Jheel, indicating a significant pollution load from drains discharging from Gurgaon in Haryana,” the report said.The report identified inadequate tapping arrangements in 11 drains. In seven, the systems were not working. In one drain, the arrangement was not operating and in three, the systems were functional but overflowing.Eight of these drains were on the Sahibi network and three in the Shahdara drain network.The report recommended restoring non-functional tapping systems, ensuring regular cleaning of drains, preventing solid waste dumping and scientifically relocating desilted material from drain banks to dedicated sites. “A system should also be adopted to prevent the dumping of solid waste in drains and to ensure their regular cleaning,” CPCB said. The report said UP and Haryana should carry out a survey for identification of pollution sources of drains in their jurisdiction and implement remedial measures for abatement of pollution of the Yamuna.
