Delhi Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu on Tuesday, 9 June reaffirmed that a cleaner, rejuvenated Yamuna remains a top priority, stating that the government is firmly committed to delivering visible and sustainable results. The declaration followed a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday to assess the progress of Yamuna rejuvenation efforts across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Key Decisions from the Review Meeting

The meeting resolved that the governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, along with all concerned Union ministries, will function as a single coordinated team under an integrated action plan. A fixed periodic review mechanism has been directed to monitor progress going forward.

Among the headline decisions, a forthcoming Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will convert the city's dairy waste into gas and manure — addressing one of the river's persistent pollution sources. Fast-tracked desilting with commercial utilisation of extracted silt, and strict monitoring of sewage and industrial discharge, were also flagged as priority actions.

Desilting Progress and STP Expansion

Home Minister Shah noted that desilting of drains discharging into the Yamuna is proceeding rapidly. Of the 28.57 lakh MT of silt targeted for removal this year, 97 per cent has already been extracted, with the remainder due for removal by 15 June. Shah directed that the extracted silt be utilised in infrastructure projects to prevent it from washing back into the river during the monsoon season.

On sewage infrastructure, Shah stated that 129 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) have been constructed across the three states so far, with an additional 59 STPs to be built by the end of 2027. He directed close monitoring of STP functioning, industrial waste management, and discharge from all drains.

Who Attended the Meeting

The review was attended by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh, and senior officials from the relevant departments.

LG Sandhu's Post on X

Lieutenant Governor Sandhu shared the meeting's outcomes in a post on X, stating: 'Attended a meeting to review the rejuvenation of the Yamuna, chaired by Hon'ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShahJi. HM reviewed the progress of ongoing initiatives, emphasised the collective commitment to accelerate restoration efforts, and directed that progress be monitored through a fixed periodic review mechanism.'

What Comes Next

The MCD-NDDB MoU is expected to be formalised shortly, while the remaining silt extraction is set to conclude by 15 June. With the monsoon approaching, the pressure to seal drain discharges and operationalise STPs before the rains intensify is considerable. The next periodic review under the new mechanism will be a key test of whether inter-state coordination translates into measurable improvement in river water quality.