Delhi's Yamuna Chokes on 1,300 Tonnes of Cattle Waste Daily

Delhi's drains are currently burdened by an estimated 1,300 tonnes of unprocessed cattle waste that flows into the Yamuna River each day. This significant organic pollution exacerbates the river's already stressed ecosystem.

In response, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Dairy Development Board. This collaboration aims to establish cattle waste processing plants throughout the city. The initiative is part of a larger Yamuna clean-up effort overseen by the Union home ministry.

While Delhi generates approximately 1,500 tonnes of cattle dung daily from its legal and illegal dairies and shelters, only about 200 tonnes is currently processed at the sole operational biogas plant in Nangli dairy. New facilities are under construction, with five expected to be operational by June 2027, significantly increasing the city's processing capacity.

These planned plants, including facilities at Ghogha, Goyla, Ghazipur, and Bhalswa dairies, will collectively handle over 1,625 tonnes of cattle dung per day once completed. This capacity is projected to exceed the current daily dung generation, addressing the pollution issue effectively.