UPSSSC Test 18

The Yamuna river, which flows through the western part of Uttar Pradesh before merging with the Ganga at Prayagraj, is one of the most important yet most polluted rivers in India. The river originates from the Yamunotri glacier in Uttarakhand and passes through several major cities including Delhi, Mathura, and Agra before entering Uttar Pradesh's flat plains. While the stretch of the Yamuna above Delhi is relatively clean, the river receives massive quantities of untreated sewage and industrial effluent from Delhi, and this pollution burden is carried downstream through Uttar Pradesh. The ecological condition of the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh is a matter of serious concern, with the river's biochemical oxygen demand levels far exceeding safe limits in many stretches and aquatic life severely depleted. Industrial pollution from the Mathura Refinery and various manufacturing units along the river further compounds the problem. The city of Agra, which depends on the Yamuna for its water supply, has faced chronic water quality challenges as a result of this pollution. The Yamuna Action Plan, which has been implemented in multiple phases since the 1990s, has aimed at improving the ecological condition of the river through investments in sewage treatment infrastructure, interception of drains, and riverfront development. However, the scheme's progress has been slower than expected due to issues of coordination between different government agencies and the sheer scale of the challenge. The National Mission for Clean Ganga, which also covers the Yamuna as a major Ganga tributary, has brought renewed focus and resources to Yamuna cleaning efforts. The mission has funded the construction and upgradation of sewage treatment plants in Mathura, Agra, and other Yamuna bank towns. Community participation programmes, including annual Yamuna cleaning drives, have helped raise public awareness about the importance of river conservation, though sustained improvement requires comprehensive action on sewage management.