Yamuna's Journey: From Himalayan Purity to Plains' Pollution—Can BJP’s Delhi Government Revive the Sacred River?
Shimla/Delhi: The Yamuna River, revered as Mata in Hindu mythology and considered even superior to the Ganga, is once again at the center of a heated debate.
With the 2025 Mahakumbh heading for its culmination at Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj, the BJP-led Delhi government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has vowed to restore the river's purity—making it their flagship agenda.
The river begins its sacred journey from the Yamunotri glaciers in Uttarakhand, flowing through the Chansel lower Himalayas in Rohru, Shimla, as the Pabber River.
Believed to be the daughter of Surya, Yamuna today is a dead river supporting no aquatic life on the way Yamuna Nagar as most of its pollution is caused by untreated sewage.
In Uphills of Shimla district, it gathers contributions from Kuppad’s groundwater seepage via Bhagoli and Sundli Nalla near Jubbal, merging with Hunthu Nalla and several other mountain streams at Hatkoti.
At Tiuni, a significant confluence takes place as Pabber meets Rupin/Shupin rivers from Natwar, Uttarakhand.
The Tons River, enriched by Shavali and Narti from Chattar that meets at Jhiknipul.
At Neoti, it is joined by Hamalti that comes from Choordhar and at Shantha Dvada, the Shantha khud joins it and flows via Nerwa, further adds to Yamuna’s pristine flow.
Giri River, originating from Giriganga flows down through Kotkhai adds more water at Renuka in Sirmaur, joins Yamuna at Paonta Sahib, where the river receives spiritual blessings from revered sites like Hateshwari Mata Temple, Char Mahasu Devta, Renuka Mata Temple, Shilgur Maharaj and the historic Gurudwara Paonta Sahib.
“This entire stretch of Yamuna from the Himalayas to Dakpathar remains untainted, with its waters supporting organic farming, medicinal plants, wildflowers, and specialty crops like red rice grown in the Ramaserai (Uttarakhand) and Ransar (Himachal Pradesh) valleys,” said Dr Vijay Thakur, former Vice Chancellor, YSPUHF, Nauni Solan who hails from Jubbal.
However, the river’s purity begins to deteriorate as it enters the plains of Haryana, collecting industrial discharge from cities like Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, and Faridabad.
In Uttar Pradesh, the pollution intensifies with untreated sewage and drainage from major cities such as Mathura, Agra, Firozabad, and Etawah, all the way to Prayagraj. Covering 1,375 kilometers before merging with the Ganga and Saraswati at Triveni Sangam, Yamuna’s plight is a stark contrast to its sacred origins.
With CM Rekha Gupta now pledging to tackle the pollution crisis, hopes are pinned on concrete measures rather than hollow promises.
“We are committed to eliminating untreated sewage, controlling industrial discharge, and reviving the natural cleansing ecosystem of the Yamuna.
This is not just an environmental goal—it’s about restoring our spiritual heritage,” said Gupta during a recent press briefing.
Legends of lord Krishna has thrived on the banks of Yamuna.
Environmental activists and residents across Delhi and neighboring states, however, remain skeptical, citing years of unfulfilled promises.
Yet, with the count of pilgrims taking a holy Mahakumbh 2025 dip exceeding over 50 Crore, the clock is ticking for the BJP government to prove that Yamuna can once again flow as a river of life, purity, and divine reverence.
