Yamuna's E-Flow Boost: Delhi and Haryana Plan River Revival

In an effort to improve the environmental flow of the Yamuna River within the capital, Delhi is considering two significant plans. These proposals, presented by the Haryana government, aim to increase the minimal water levels required for the river's ecological health. The first plan focuses on curbing water loss by remodeling parts of the Munak canal system, a critical conduit for Delhi's raw water supply from Haryana.

This remodeling project proposes laying new pipelines and rehabilitating existing channels to reduce current transmission losses from over 30% to below 5%. Haryana has suggested that Delhi and the Union government should bear the cost, with saved water being diverted to the Yamuna as environmental flow. The second proposal is a long-term strategy to reserve at least 30% of the inflow from three upcoming dams on Yamuna tributaries.

These dams—Lakhwar, Renukaji, and Kishau—are projected to be commissioned between 2031 and 2034. If all basin states agree, they could collectively provide up to 754 cusecs of extra water for the river's environmental flow. Experts suggest that doubling the river's flow will aid in diluting toxins and enabling aquatic life to survive.