RIVER YAMUNA

Dying by

DEFAULTor by

DESIGN
Taj Mahal as an ode to undying love. A river which notwithstanding its past glory, is today fighting a seemingly lost battle for its continued survival against powerful forces of avarice and general apathy. But it is also a story of hope. For it tells how the prophets of gloom and doom can and should be proved wrong by a motivated citizenry and committed state machinery.

t is the story of a river. A true story narrated in pictures, in maps and in tables.

A river revered for aeon by the millions of people as it flowed along side the historical cities of Delhi, Vrindaban, Mathura and Agra. A river, which is associated intimately with the leelas of Lord Krishna. A river, which has b een a witness to the historical journey of India down the ages. A river, which blends with and complements the everlasting charms of the monument called the

Pristine river Yamuna in Dehradun (date of picture: 17 February 2007)

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Putrid river Yamuna in Delhi (date of picture: 28 January 2007)

River Yamuna at glance

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

BARE FACTS ABOUT THE RIVER

Origin Jamunotri (Uttrakhand) from Jamunotri glacier Total length 1376 km SECTION STATE LENGTH (KM) TRIBUTARIES / DRAINS Kamal, Giri, Tons, Asan DAM / BARRAGE Dak Patthar Barrage, Asan Barrage, CANAL

Hills (Jamunotri Hathnikund Barrage) Upstream Delhi (Plains) (Hathnikund Barrage Wazirabad Barrage) Delhi* (Wazirabad Barrage Yamuna Barrage Okhla Barrage)

UA, UP, HP

172

Dakpathar Canal, Asan Canal

Haryana, UP

224

Som nadi / Choti Yamuna Drain no. 2 and 8

Hathnikund Barrage

WYC and EYC

Delhi

22

22 drains, Hindon Cut

Wazirabad Barrage, Yamuna Barrage,

Agra canal

Downstream UP, Delhi Haryana (Okhla Barrage Confluence with Chambal) Revived Yamuna (Confluence with Chambal Confluence with Ganga) TOTAL UP

490

Hindon, Bhuria Nala, Mathura Vrindavan drain, Agra Drain Chambal, Ken, Kali Sindh, Betwa

Okhla Barrage

Agra Canal, Gurgaon Canal

468

1376

WYC Western Yamuna Canal, EYC Eastern Yamuna Canal * River Yamuna enters Delhi at village Palla and traverses a total distance of 48 km within the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) of which 26 km is upstream of the Wazirabad Barrage.

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

RIVER YAMUNA IN THE HILLS (UA, HP)

Google Picture

River Yamuna covers a total distance of 170 km in the hills of Uttarakhand passing through the elevated valley of Dehradun before it cuts through the Siwalik hills to enter the plains of UP and Haryana. River Tons and Asan in Uttarakhand and river Kamal and Giri in Himachal Pradesh are its main tributaries.

RIVER YAMUNA ENTERS THE PLAINS (UP, Haryana)

Google Picture

River Yamuna covers a distance of 220 km from the Hathnikund Barrage where it enters the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana before reaching village Palla in Delhi.

RIVER YAMUNA IN DELHI 22 km of river between the Wazirabad barrage and the Okhla Barrage Google Picture

Close up of river Yamuna at the Wazirabad barrage

Google Picture

The river flood plain on either side more so in the east can be seen to have been converted into human habitation.

Wazirabad Barrage (date of picture: 28 January 2007)

River Yamuna between Wazirabad Barrage and Old Railway Bridge

Google Picture

While the flood plain in the west is almost absent the one in east is still relatively unmolested till the Shahdara road bridge

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Between Shahdara bridge and the ITO Bridge

Google Picture

Sashtri Park Metro station has usurped almost the entire flood plain between the Shahdara bridge and the Old Yamuna Bridge. The Samadhis, Raj Ghat Power Plant, Yamuna Velodrome, IG Indoor Stadium, Delhi Secretariat in the river flood plain can be seen on the west bank of the river.

River Yamuna between ITO Bridge and the Nizamuddin Bridge

Google Picture

Akshardham can be seen under construction in this imagery. Flood plain north and west of Akshardham is the proposed site for the CG 2010 games village. The seemingly secure flood plain in the eastern bank of the river, south of the ITO bridge and north of the bridal path is presently under conversion into Yamuna Metro Station.

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Nizamuddin Bridge

Google Picture

The last virgin (still unmolested) part of flood plain south of Nizamuddin Bridge can be seen. Akshardham and the proposed site for the CG 2010 games village can be seen in upper right corner. Also can be seen the JN Stadium diagonally opposite the games village site at lower left corner.

DND

Google Picture

The serpentine DND bridge over the river Yamuna. Also can be seen south of the DND, in the western bank vast human habitation (Batla House and its extension) right into the river, south of the DND.

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Yamuna at the Okhla Barrage

Google Picture

Agra Canal can be seen leaving the Okhla reservoir while Shahdara drain can be seen to meet the river south of the Barrage

South of Okhla Barrage

Google Picture

Agra Canal, Express way (NOIDA) and the resettlement colony in the western flood plain can be seen.

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

WHAT
Diversion of water

AILS

RIVER YAMUNA

?
STATE OF RIVER Water diverted into canal Water diverted into canal Water diverted into WYC and EYC (No water flow downstream in dry season) Generally no water flow downstream in dry season Water available mainly from drains Generally no water flow downstream in dry season

Water from the river Yamuna has been diverted for power generation, irrigation and drinking water purposes at various places all along its length

SITE Dak Patthar

STRUCTURE Barrage

STATE UA

PURPOSE Power generation

Asan

Barrage

UA

Power generation

Hathnikund

Barrage

UP / Haryana

Irrigation and drinking water

Wazirabad

Barrage

Delhi

Drinking water

ITO bridge

Barrage

Delhi

Water supply to power plant Water supply into Agra Canal

Okhla

Barrage

Delhi / UP

Source: CPCB, 2000. WYC Western Yamuna Canal; EYC Eastern Yamuna Canal

NB: There are no notable tributaries bringing water to river Yamuna for a distance of around 250 km of its flow in the plains except for a seasonal stream called Som Nadi (joining it close to Saharanpur in UP) and heavily polluted river Hindon (joining it south of Greater NOIDA in UP) till the river Chambal meets the river Yamuna near Etawah (UP). So majority of water that one finds

in the river south of the Hathnikund Barrage is either from ground water accrual or the waste water drains joining the river from towns like Yamuna Nagar, Karnal, Panipat and Sonepat in Haryana and Saharanpur, Muzzafarnagar and Baghpat in UP. In Delhi the water is brought into the river by the 22 waste water drains that empty into it. (List in Appendix).

10

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Asan Canal (date of picture: 17 February 2007)

Hathnikund Barrage over river Yamuna (date of picture: 17 February 2007)

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

11

Western Yamuna Canal leaving the Hathnikund Barrage (date of picture: 17 February 2007)

Eastern Yamuna Canal originating from the Hathnikund Barrage (date of picture: 17 February 2007)

12

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Little water in river Yamuna downstream of the Hathnikund Barrage (date of picture: 17 February 2007)

Pollution of water
It is well known that river Yamuna is today one of the most polluted rivers in the country. Domestic, agriculture as well as industrial pollution sources contribute to it. CPCB stations on river Yamuna up till Delhi NAME Hathnikund Kalanaur LOCATION 2 km upstream of Tajewala Barrage 7 km east of Yamuna nagar at Yamuna Bridge on Yamuna nagar Saharanpur Road 20 km east of Sonepat city at Yamuna bridge on Sonepat Baghpat road 23 km upstream of Wazirabad barrage 13 km downstream of Wazirabad 26 km downstream from Wazirabad Barrage DESCRIPTION Gives water quality of almost pristine Yamuna Provides impact of Som Nadi on the river water quality Impact of discharges from Karnal and Panipat cities Impact of discharges from Sonipat district. Raw water quality for Delhi Impact of wastewater discharge from Delhi Impact of discharge from Delhi after Okhla Barrage CLASS A&B C

Sonepat

Palla

C&D

Nizammudin Agra Canal

E E

Source: CPCB, 2000.

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

13

Primary water quality criteria for various uses of fresh water (Source: CPCB) BOX DESIGNATED BEST USE Drinking water source without conventional treatment but after disinfections CLASS A CRITERIA *Total coliform organisms MPN/100mL shall be 50 or less. *pH between 6.5 and 8.5 *Dissolved oxygen 6 mg/l or more *Biochemical oxygen demand 2 mg/l or Less *Total coliform organisms MPN/100ml shall be 500 or less *pH between 6.5 and 8.5 *Dissolved oxygen 5 mg/l or more *Biochemical oxygen demand 3 mg/l or Less *Total coliform organisms MPN/ 100ml shall be 5000 or less *pH between 6 and 9 *Dissolved oxygen 4 mg/l or more *Biochemical oxygen demand 3 mg/l or Less *pH between 6.5 and 8.5 *Dissolved oxygen 4 mg/l or more *Free ammonia (as N) 1.2 mg/l or less *pH between 6.0 and 8.5 *Electrical conductivity less than 2250 micro mhos/cm *Sodium absorption ratio less than 26 *Boron less than 2mg/l

Outdoor bathing

Drinking water source with conventional treatment followed by disinfection

Propagation of wild life, fisheries

Irrigation, industrial cooling, con-trolled waste disposal

Polluted state of the river Yamuna in Delhi (Adapted from Bhardwaj, 2005)

It has the lowest value of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) at .1 mg / lit of all the rivers in the country DO is the amount of oxygen in mg / lit of river water to sustain the aquatic life in water body. (Bathing quality standard is 5 mg / lit) It has one of the highest Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of all the rivers in the country at 36 mg / lit BOD is the amount of oxygen in mg needed by bacteria to oxydise one lit of organic waste (Bathing quality standard is 3 mg / lit)

It has the highest count in the country of Total Coliform Numbers and Faecal Coliform Numbers at 2.6 billion MPN/100 ml and 1.7 million MPN/ 100 ml respectively Faecal Coliform number number of disease causing bacteria counted in 100 ml of water. Origin of these bacteria is faecal matter. (Bathing quality standard is 500 per 100 ml of water)

14

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Sources of pollution:
Domestic Pollution:
Urban centres in the state of Uttarakhand (Dehradun), Haryana (Yamuna Nagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Faridabad, Bhallabhgarh), UP (Saharanpur, Muzzafarnagar, Baghpat, Gaziabad, Noida, Mathura, Agra) and Delhi are the major sources of domestic pollution of the river. Increasing water requirement for domestic uses and the impact of resultant waste water discharge in form of sewage (especially since the latter has not been efficiently treated and managed) on the receiving river has deteriorated the water quality. Domestic uses that pollute the river include cattle wading, bathing, open defecation and washing of clothes in the river. A major source of domestic pollution in Indian rivers is the offerings and remnants of religious ceremonies performed in individual houses and in public places.

River Yamuna in Delhi (date of picture: 28 February 2007)

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

15

Waste water drain next to Nizamuddin railway Station flowing into river Yamuna (date of picture: 22 February 2007)

Shahdara drain and the Hindon cut bringing waste water into river Yamuna (date of picture: 28 January 2007)

16

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Industrial pollution:
According to CPCB (2000) there were 22 industrial units in Haryana, 42 units in Delhi and 17 units in Uttar Pradesh which were found to be directly discharging and polluting the river. These industries include paper, sugar, chemical, leather, distillery, pharmaceuticals, power etc.

Pragati Power Plant in Delhi (date of picture: 28 January 2007)

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

17

Agricultural pollution:
Agricultural pollution is mainly sourced from agricultural residues, fertilizer and pesticide use and cattle. (date of picture: 28 January 2007)

Encroachment over river bed and the flood plain

River beds and flood plains are part of an aquatic ecosystem with important ecological role of ensuring smooth river water flows, growth of requisite vegetation, ground water recharge as well as flood water regulation. Any encroachment on river bed or the flood plain resulting in a change in land use results in ZONE Zone P Zone O Total DESCRIPTION Area north of Wazirabad Barrage Area south of Wazirabad Barrage hindering of one or all of the above functions. In Delhi, Zone O and part of Zone P (Between the two embankments on west and east of the river) has been identified as the river Yamuna spread over an area of around 97 sq km. Of this 16 sq km is under water and the rest around 81 sq km is the river flood plain. AREA (HA) 3600 ha 6100 9700

18

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Over a period of time areas in the flood plain have been converted or are in the process of conversion on either side of the river for various alternate uses as under: STRETCH OF RIVER FLOOD PLAIN NCTD boundary Wazirabad Barrage WEST BANK EAST BANK

JJ colony, Water works

Sonia Vihar, Khajuri Khas, CRPF camp, Sonia Vihar DJB water works

Wazirabad Barrage Shahdara Bridge Shahdara Bridge ITO Bridge (Yamuna Barrage)

Metcalfe House, Majnu ka Tila, Signature Bridge (proposed) JJ colonies (since removed), Electric crematorium, Samadhis (Vijay Ghat, Shanti Van, Shakti Sathal, Rajghat), Rajghat and IP power station and house, Yamuna Velodrome, IG Indoor Stadium, Delhi Secretariat

220 KV ESS (Power distribution station) Shastri Park Metro station and head quarters, IT Park, JJ colonies (some since removed), Geeta Colony Bridge (under construction), New Railway Bridge (under construction), Highway (under construction) Yamuna Metro station (under construction), Metro bridge and Embankment (under construction), Akshardham, CG Village (proposed), JJ Colonies (since removed)

ITO Bridge Nizamuddin Bridge

Pragati Power station, JJ colonies (since removed), Petrol pump

Nizamuddin Bridge DND

Land fill, Electric crematorium, Global village (under construction)

JJ colonies (since removed), Extension of DND till Mayur Place city centre (under construction)

DND Okhla Barrage

JJ Colonies and other residential colonies (Batla House and extension) Defence services Sailing club, Kalindi Kunj bye pass road (under construction), Abul Fazal Enclave

South of Okhla Barrage

Indian Oil Bottling Plant, Resettlement colonies (Madan pur Khadar)

Amity University (UP)

Source: adapted from MPD 2021

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

19

Pictorial (Source: Tehelka newspaper dated 16 August 2006)

1
Bal Nirikshan Grih Tibetan School Baba Gopaldas Darwesh Majnu Ka Tila Chandgi Ram Akhada Ladakh Budh Vihar

Police Training Camp Sonia Vihar Rajiv Nagar Shree Ram Colony

5 6 7 8 9 10

2 3 4

11 12

Metro Headquarter Shastri Park

Rajghat Power Plant Delhi Stock Exchange Delhi Secretariat

13 14 15
Commonwealth Games Village Akshardham Temple

16 17
Fly Ashes Rajiv Smriti Van

18 19

Abul Fazal Enclave

20 21

Indian Oil Bottling Plant Suresh Vihar Om Nagar

22 23 24 25

Hari Nagar Meethapur

20

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Flood plain and Rajiv Nagar colony north of Wazirabad Barrage (Sonia Vihar water works can be seen in the background) (date of picture: 28January 2007)

Shastri Park Metro Station and DMRC Head quarters in the flood plain (date of picture: 28 January 2007)

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

21

IG Indoor Stadium and the Delhi Secretariat in the flood plain (date of picture: 28 January 2007)

Embankment in the flood plain under construction for the Yamuna Metro Station (date of picture: 28 January 2007)

22

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

Flood plain west of Akshardham (can be seen in the backdrop) slated for conversion into CG 2010 games village (date of picture: 22 February 2007)

Global village under construction in the river bed north of the DND (date of picture: 22 February 2007)

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN

23

Extension of DND up till Mayur Vihar City centre under construction in the flood plain (date of picture: 22 February 2007)

Appendix

LIST OF DRAINS OUT FALLING INTO RIVER YAMUNA : (Source: MPD 2021).
1. Najafgarh drain 2. Magazine Road drain 3. Sweeper Colony drain 4. Khyber pass drain 5. Metcalfe drain 6. Kudsia Bagh drain 7. Moat drain 8. Trans Yamuna MCD drain 9. Mori Gate drain 10. Civil Mill Drain 11. Power House drain 12. Sen Nursing Home drain 13. Drain No. 14 14. Barapullah Drain 15. Maharani Bagh drain 16. Kalkaji drain 17. Okhla drain 18. Tughlakabad drain 19. Shahdara drain 20. Sarita Vihar Drain 21. LPG Bottling Plant Drain 22. Tehkhand Drain

24

RIVER YAMUNA Dying by DEFAULT or by DESIGN