Current Affairs

Five state panel constituted to oversee Yamuna rejuvenation plan

Source:hindustantimes ↗

Why It Matters

Crucial for UPPSC aspirants studying river pollution, inter-state water governance mechanisms, and environmental management of major river systems like the Yamuna that flow through Uttar Pradesh.

Summary

A five-state committee has been constituted to oversee the comprehensive Yamuna River rejuvenation plan, aiming to improve water quality, curb sewage and industrial effluent discharge, and coordinate inter-state administrative action across the Yamuna basin.

Key Points

  • A five-state panel has been established to oversee the holistic rejuvenation and pollution abatement plan for the Yamuna River.
  • The initiative involves coordination among riparian states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
  • Focus areas include tackling industrial and domestic sewage discharge, reviving environmental flows, and coordinating multi-state governance mechanisms for river basin management.

Important Terms

Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan

A comprehensive multi-state strategy and governance framework aimed at curbing industrial effluent and sewage discharge, improving water quality, and ensuring ecological environmental flow (e-flow) along the entire course of the Yamuna basin.

UPSC context

UPSC Paper III (Environment & Ecology): Tests governance frameworks, river basin management, and pollution mitigation strategies for critical river systems.

Yamuna Rejuvenation Panel

An inter-state administrative panel comprising chief secretaries of Yamuna basin states and central authorities, formed to oversee pollution mitigation and coordinate execution of the river cleaning strategy.

UPSC context

UPSC Paper II / III (Polity & Governance / Environment): Important for cooperative federalism, inter-state water governance, and judicial/executive oversight mechanisms.

National Green Tribunal

A specialized statutory body established in India under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and natural resources.

UPSC context

UPSC Paper II (Statutory Bodies & Polity): Frequently tests the mandate, composition, and enforcement powers of environmental tribunals in India.

Prelims Trap

The Yamuna rejuvenation inter-state committee comprises only Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Aspirants often assume only Delhi, Haryana, and UP are part of Yamuna riparian bodies, missing Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand where the river originates and dams are situated.

Static Concepts Connected

Indian Geography - Drainage System and Rivers

What are the major tributaries of the Yamuna River and its key multi-state barrage systems?

  • Right Bank: Right Bank Tributaries include the Chambal, Betwa, and Ken originating from the Central Highlands.
  • Left Bank: Left Bank Tributaries include the Hindon, Rind, and Yamuna's upper Himalayan feeders like Tons and Giri.
  • Barrage Systems: Barrages regulate flow through Hathnikund (Haryana), Wazirabad, and Okhla (Delhi) for irrigation and water supply.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Yamuna Rejuvenation & Federal Water Governance

    Inter-state river councils and NGT directions link federal water disputes with mandatory pollution abatement timelines under environmental jurisprudence.

  • Himalayan Hydrology & Urban Pollution Dynamics

    Upstream dam regulation in Himachal and Uttarakhand directly impacts downstream water availability and urban sanitation in Delhi and UP.

Five-state panel composition and e-flow mechanisms for Yamuna likely to appear in match-the-following or statement-based questions.

Linked PYQs · 3

Linked PYQs · 3

  • 2018UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Which of the following rivers of Uttar Pradesh has been declared a 'Biological Disaster' due to environmental pollution?

  • 2020UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Consider the following tributaries of River Yamuna and arrange them from West to East : 1. Betwa 2. Ken 3. Sindh 4. Chambal Select the correct answer from the codes given below.

  • 2023UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    List-I: (A) Yamuna (B) Krishna (C) Godavari (D) Mahanadi List-II: 1. Sihawa 2. Nasik 3. Mahabaleshwar 4. Yamunotri