Can the Yamuna River be cleaned?

Yes, the Yamuna River can be cleaned, but only if the focus shifts from reactive measures to proactive prevention of pollution.

How did the COVID-19 lockdown affect river pollution in India?

During the COVID-19 lockdown, when industries were shut down, the Yamuna River and other polluted rivers in India briefly revived, demonstrating that preventing pollution is the key to cleaning them.

Home / Environment / Experts Urge Shift from Reactive to Proactive Measures to Clean India's Rivers

Experts Urge Shift from Reactive to Proactive Measures to Clean India's Rivers

Q: What is the root cause of river pollution in India?

The root cause of river pollution in India is the lack of comprehensive sewerage systems and the separation of waste streams, which leads to the mixing of sewage, rainwater, and industrial waste.

27 Oct

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Summary

Cleaning rivers is possible, but preventing pollution is key
India's approach of building treatment plants has failed to solve the problem
Lack of comprehensive sewerage systems and separation of waste streams is the root cause

Experts Urge Shift from Reactive to Proactive Measures to Clean India's Rivers

As the Chhath Puja festival brings millions of devotees to the banks of the Yamuna River, the issue of river pollution once again takes center stage. Experts argue that the question should not be whether rivers can be cleaned, but how to stop polluting them in the first place.

While many countries have successfully restored and kept their rivers clean, India has struggled to achieve the same. The failure lies not in the lack of capacity, but in the approach. India has focused on building sewage treatment plants (STPs) and intercepting drains, but this has proven ineffective. The real problem is the lack of comprehensive sewerage systems and the separation of waste streams.