Delhi Budget 2025: BJP govt allocates ₹500 crore for cleaning Yamuna river

The Delhi government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has allocated ₹500 crore in the 2025 Budget for the cleaning of the Yamuna River, a long-standing environmental concern. Presenting the budget, CM Gupta said only treated water would enter the river, ensuring its rejuvenation through the decentralisation of 40 sewage treatment plants.

This move aligns with Gupta’s earlier statements about prioritising the Yamuna’s restoration.

On February 20, during a Yamuna aarti at Vasudev Ghat, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to cleaning the river. Gupta had taken oath as Delhi’s ninth Chief Minister the same day at Ramlila Maidan.
The Budget announcement follows the Delhi government’s recent push to boost tourism along the river.

On March 1, officials revealed plans to develop a six-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna, from the Wazirabad barrage (Sonia Vihar) to Jagatpur (near the Shani temple), for a river cruise service. This initiative aims to promote tourism while revitalising the river’s ecosystem.

However, the allocation comes amid recurring concerns over the Yamuna’s severe pollution levels.

As recently as November 4, 2024, thick toxic foam blanketed the river in the Kalindi Kunj area. This phenomenon, a familiar sight in the national capital, has often drawn criticism over the government’s failure to implement long-term solutions.

In October 2024, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva was hospitalised with itching and breathing difficulties after taking a dip in the heavily polluted Yamuna to protest the AAP government’s inability to clean the river.