GANGA-YAMUNA WATER DIVERSION PLAN: BENEFITS, CHALLENGES, AND THE WAY FORWARD

Context 

To tackle the severe Yamuna pollution crisis, the Centre and Delhi government are discussing a plan to divert Ganga water to boost the Yamuna's flow.

What is Ganga-Yamuna Water Diversion Plan?

The project aims to improve the Yamuna River's environmental flow, reduce pollution in the Delhi section, and address the city's water shortage. 

However, the proposal faces criticism for being a temporary fix that neglects core pollution sources and creates major ecological and inter-state issues.

The Yamuna's Pollution Crisis in Delhi

The Yamuna is considered ecologically "dead" in its 22-km stretch through Delhi, which alone contributes to approximately 76-80% of the river's total pollution load (Source: Economic Survey of Delhi, 2023-24). 

Sewage Generation vs Treatment: Delhi produces an estimated 792 MGD of sewage, but its 38 STPs have a total capacity of only 712 MGD. Due to underperformance or upgrades at many plants, untreated sewage flows into the river. (Source: Times of India)

High Pollution Metrics: Key water quality indicators are dangerously above permissible limits, especially downstream of major drains like Najafgarh and Shahdara.

The Proposed Diversion Plan

The plan is an interim measure to divert about 500 MGD of water from the Upper Ganga Canal (UGC) in Uttar Pradesh, through the Eastern Yamuna Canal (EYC), and into the Yamuna. This will continue until long-term solutions, like building three upper Yamuna dams to store monsoon water, are completed.

Challenges 

While the plan aims to dilute pollutants, experts criticize it as a "shortcut" that avoids addressing the fundamental problem of waste management and poses several significant risks.

Ecological Impact on the Ganga Basin: Experts claim the Ganga lacks surplus water, especially in lean seasons. Diverting it risks stressing the ecosystem, affecting biodiversity, and impacting downstream communities in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.

A Symptomatic Solution, Not a Cure: The core problem is the daily discharge of vast untreated sewage. Diluting this waste is an unsustainable, anti-environmental practice that avoids the need to upgrade and expand Delhi's sewage treatment infrastructure.

Inter-State Water Disputes: Uttar Pradesh's concerns about water security and farmer protests hinder the plan's approval, potentially escalating a complex inter-state water dispute under India's federal structure.

• Article 262 of the Constitution permits Parliament to legislate on inter-state river water disputes and exclude Supreme Court jurisdiction once a tribunal is established under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.  

Sustainable Alternatives: Addressing the Root Cause

A more sustainable and effective approach requires focusing on holistic water management and pollution control at the source.

Enhancing Sewage Treatment: Priority must be on upgrading STPs in Delhi to meet the latest standards (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and expanding capacity to treat 100% of the city's sewage.

Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: Invest in decentralized STPs (DSTPs) for treating sewage in unsewered areas like unauthorized colonies, to prevent waste from entering the river system.

Strict Industrial Effluent Regulation: Enforce a zero-liquid discharge policy for industries and ensure all industrial areas are covered by functional Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) is non-negotiable.

Holistic Water Governance: The Mihir Shah Committee (2016) recommended creating a unified National Water Commission (NWC) to replace the Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). Its key recommendations include:

• Managing surface and groundwater as a single, interconnected resource.
• Focusing on river rejuvenation programs at the basin level.
• Promoting participatory groundwater management.

Way Forward

Diverting Ganga water to the Yamuna is a costly distraction from pollution control, which is essential, as environmental flow alone cannot ensure river health.

Implement a time-bound mission to eliminate untreated sewage and industrial waste through sanitation infrastructure overhaul, strict enforcement, and the holistic water management approach of the Mihir Shah Committee.

Any water diversion plan must first undergo a transparent Environmental Impact Assessment and secure political consensus to prevent potential ecological harm and inter-state disputes. 

Yamuna can be restored only through thorough cleaning, not merely by attempting to dilute its pollutants.

Source: thehindu