'Shocking...': Delhi High Court forms panel to fast-track Yamuna clean-up, slams delays

Visuals of the Yamuna River

The Delhi High Court on Saturday sharply criticised government agencies over the prolonged inaction on wastewater treatment and industrial redevelopment projects linked to pollution in the Yamuna, calling the situation a “shocking state of affairs.”

The court has now constituted a three-member committee to fast-track decisions and implementation.

A news report by News18 said that the new panel will consist of representatives from the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) as well as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

The panel will be responsible for reviewing redevelopment plans for industrial zones and ensuring that the water that continues to discharge into the Yamuna is thoroughly treated.

A Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh expressed strong displeasure after reviewing status updates submitted by the DSIIDC, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

The court said that there have been significant delays in the cleaning process and pointed out that, despite a cabinet decision taken in 2023, crucial reports from DSIIDC were only filed two years later.

“The Government is bogged down by bureaucrats, the Court is also getting bogged down by them,” the Bench remarked, going on to caution, “We will just say, wind up DSIIDC if this is how it will work.”

The judges also recorded that none of the appointed consultant firms’ redevelopment plans had yet been finalised or executed, while ₹2.5 crore allocated for the project remained stuck in administrative processes.

“In all these 27 areas, there is no treatment happening, that is why there is so much pollution. This is shocking,” the court observed, ordering DSIIDC to release the withheld amount to the MCD within two weeks.

Expressing frustration with the pace of the cleanup effort, Justice Singh remarked, “Look at what you are doing, for this 2 crores look at the 3 crore people suffering this air and water.”

The Bench reiterated that earlier, consultant agencies were tasked with preparing redevelopment blueprints after field surveys. Under the latest directive, all submitted layout plans must now be jointly reviewed by the three-member coordination team, which is to secure clearances and submit a consolidated progress report.

Throughout the hearing, the judges maintained that an intervention is of utmost urgency and importance. “Citizens are struggling,” Justice Singh said, emphasising that judicial scrutiny was required to ensure accountability.

The court also flagged major inefficiencies in sewage handling, noting that treated wastewater was being rerouted back into sewage drains instead of being repurposed for landscaping and urban green spaces.

“The whole point is defeated,” Justice Singh remarked and directed the concerned agencies to rework pipelines and ensure meaningful reuse of treated water.

The DJB has been instructed to file a detailed compliance report outlining upgrades required to increase sewage treatment capacity, plans to maintain quality standards at operational treatment plants and the status of upcoming facilities.