The Trajectory Of The Yamuna River

The Yamuna River referred locally as ‘Jamna’ is a major north Indian river originating in the Great Himalayas in Uttarakhand, flowing through Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

 Jamna flows for 1,376 kilometres and merges into the Sangam in Prayagraj (U.P.) and is the longest tributary of the River Ganga. Presently, due to rapid urbanization, the Yamuna River has become one of the most polluted rivers in north India. The most astonishing fact about the Yamuna river is that only 2% of the length flows through Delhi, yet Delhi and its adjoining region contribute a major portion of the total pollution of Yamuna. All of the city’s sewage and toxic industrial liquid waste gets discharged into Delhi’s drainage system which leads to the Yamuna. The liquid waste contains dyes, which include heavy metals like mercury, lead, tin and they prove to be fatal for aquatic creatures. The Yamuna River has immense economic importance as it contributes to irrigation and agricultural activities. Popular as a holy river, it is used by fishermen, washermen and farmers. The river supports a rich aquatic habitat. Industrial wastage and the presence of environmental hazards have proven to be challenging for all stakeholders. More than 50 million people depend on the Yamuna and it accounts for over 70% of Delhi’s water supply.