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Yamuna Cruise Set to Sail Amidst Alarming Pollution Levels
28 Oct
Summary
- Delhi plans a Yamuna cruise service before Chhath despite high pollution.
- River's BOD levels consistently exceed safe limits, reaching 70 mg/l.
- Faecal coliform counts surge dramatically, indicating severe bacterial contamination.
A new cruise service is planned for Delhi's Yamuna river, intended to provide residents and tourists with a novel way to experience the waterway. This initiative is set to launch before the Chhath festival. Despite these plans, the Yamuna's water quality, as indicated by data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, continues to show worrying levels of pollution and bacterial contamination.
The river's Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), a key indicator of organic waste, has consistently surpassed the safe standard of 3 milligrams per litre over the past eight years. In September 2026, while the BOD at Palla, where the river enters Delhi, was a safe 2 mg/l, it escalated sharply to 30 mg/l by the Inter-State Bus Terminal Bridge within the city.
Bacterial contamination, measured by faecal coliform, also presents a serious issue. The recommended range is 500 to 2,500 most probable number (MPN) per 100 ml. However, counts along the Yamuna within Delhi reach as high as 35,000 at the Inter-State Bus Terminal Bridge and 38,000 at Asgarpur, far exceeding safe levels and highlighting ongoing environmental challenges.
