Political sparring over the ecological health of the Yamuna River escalated sharply in the capital on Thursday, October 29, 2026, as BJP MP Manoj Tiwari took a dip at Sonia Vihar ghat and drank the water, asserting that river pollution levels had dropped significantly under the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi state administration.
Tiwari, who represents the North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, performed aachman (ritual sipping of water) and cited the presence of migratory birds as proof of ecological recovery ahead of the Chhath Puja festival.
The Political Claims and Counter-Dares
Defending the state government’s river restoration initiatives, Tiwari asserted that the presence of local wildlife supported his stance:
”These migratory birds would not have come here if the river wasn’t clean. There might be crocodiles in the water here, but crocodiles only come in clean water.”
Tiwari claimed that the BJP government had cleaned half of the river over the past eighteen months and promised full restoration within three years. In response, AAP’s Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj dismissed the demonstration as a political stunt, noting that the Palla-to-Wazirabad entry stretch has historically maintained lower pollution levels compared to downstream sectors.
Bharadwaj issued a counter-challenge on social media:
”I invite Manoj Tiwari and Water Minister Parvesh Verma to drink water at Kalindi Kunj ghat near the Okhla barrage. Last year also, they ran away from the challenge.”
DPCC Monitoring Data vs. Ground Reality
Despite political assertions, official Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) monitoring data paints a complex picture of the 52-kilometer stretch of the Yamuna passing through the national capital:
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): While the prescribed bathing standard is 3 mg/L or less, Palla recorded 2 mg/L at entry. However, downstream levels spike significantly, registering 30 mg/L at the ISBT Bridge and 18 mg/L at ITO. Although ITO levels improved from 70 mg/L in July 2025 to 18 mg/L in September 2026, contamination remains six times above the safe bathing threshold.
- Faecal Coliform Count: At the ISBT Bridge, faecal coliform levels were recorded at 35,000 MPN per 100 ml—14 times higher than the maximum desirable bathing limit of 2,500 MPN per 100 ml.
Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma clarified that while the upper stretch between Palla and Wazirabad has seen progress, full restoration between Wazirabad and Kalindi Kunj will require another two to three years. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently launched 43 Yamuna rejuvenation projects worth ₹8,941 crore, targeting complete restoration by May 2029.
