Tue Jan 28 13:40:04 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Election Heats Up with Yamuna River Pollution Taking Center Stage

**New Delhi, India** – With Delhi’s elections fast approaching, the heavily polluted Yamuna River has become a focal point of political sparring. Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accuses Haryana of releasing dangerously high levels of ammonia into the river, a claim vehemently denied by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who has threatened legal action against Kejriwal for defamation.

The BJP has also engaged in the controversy, with former MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma controversially immersing a Kejriwal cut-out in the polluted river, a stunt criticized for exacerbating the problem.

The Yamuna, once a vital waterway, now resembles a vast sewage canal. This stark reality has renewed focus on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s promise to develop the Yamuna Riverfront, mirroring the successful Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.

The Sabarmati project, detailed in the article, involved extensive planning and collaboration between government, private sector, and urban experts, beginning in 1997 and culminating in a significant transformation. Although the downstream portions remain polluted due to its seasonal nature, the project showcases a possible path forward. The Narmada River’s water, channeled into the Sabarmati, played a crucial role in maintaining water levels.

However, the Yamuna’s situation presents unique challenges. Despite over Rs 8,500 crore spent on three Yamuna Action Plans since 1993, the river remains severely polluted. AAP blames Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, both BJP-ruled states, for discharging pollutants and insufficient freshwater release. The article highlights the river’s over-utilization for various purposes, coupled with untreated industrial effluent and sewage, as key factors contributing to its degradation.

The stark contrast between the developed Sabarmati Riverfront, including a dedicated ghat for Chhath Puja, and the toxic conditions of the Yamuna during the same religious observance underscores the urgent need for action. While a Sabarmati-style transformation for the Yamuna is ambitious, the article suggests that a collaborative effort involving experts could tackle the challenges of flooding, low water levels, and pollution. However, past experience indicates that the political posturing surrounding the Yamuna’s pollution often subsides after elections, raising concerns that the current outcry may be short-lived.

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