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As per the analysis of the regular monitoring undertaken by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), river water quality of Yamuna River deteriorates especially in its stretch between Wazirabad barrage at Delhi till its confluence with Chambal River in Uttar Pradesh (U.P.). High count of Total and Faecal Coliform, which are above the permissible levels, along with no or very low Dissolved Oxygen level in the river water is due to wastewater discharges in the river Yamuna, predominantly from domestic sources. The water quality of the river shows improvement only during monsoon period.

To supplement the efforts of State Governments in addressing the problem of pollution of river Yamuna, Government of India is implementing Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) with assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in a phased manner. YAP-I, which commenced in April, 1993 was completed in Feb, 2003 at a total cost of Rs. 682 crore covering various pollution abatement works, including creation of Sewage Treatment capacity of 753.25 million litres per day (mld). YAP-II was approved in 2003 at an estimated cost of Rs. 624 crores with major items of work such as rehabilitation of sewerage network and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and construction of new STPs. Further, under YAP-III project for Delhi with an estimated cost of Rs. 1656 crores has been approved.

The above information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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(Release ID :86366)