Toxic Foam Reappears on the Yamuna as Delhi Rolls Out a Rs 8,941 Crore River-Cleaning Drive

White, pollutant-laden foam was observed floating in the Yamuna near the Kalindi Kunj ghat. A colourful tent, a tanker, machinery and safety gear were already on site, while the defoaming chemicals had not yet arrived. The contractor identified by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is ICON Instruments Company. DJB assistant chemist Sandeep Verma said the department has been conducting annual defoaming campaigns since 2022 and that the equipment on site belongs to DJB, noting a tender worth Rs 80 lakh was issued for the work.

As foam builds up in Yamuna, questions raised over how work was allotted Toxic Foam Returns To Yamuna As Delhi-NCR Air Quality Slips To 'Unhealthy' CNN-News18

Foam formation on the Yamuna is a recurring symptom of untreated sewage and solid waste entering the river. The city’s air quality also deteriorated in early October, with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoking Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan on October 21 after the Air Quality Index reached 168 and PM2.5/PM10 dominated the readings. Earlier in the year, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta highlighted the inauguration of mega-infrastructure projects valued at roughly Rs 9,000 crore as a “joyful day” for residents, signalling a broader push to rejuvenate the river.

Toxic Foam Returns To Yamuna As Delhi-NCR Air Quality Slips To 'Unhealthy'

• Tender value: Rs 80 lakh for the current defoaming operation.

As foam builds up in Yamuna, questions raised over how work was allotted

• Air quality: AQI 168; PM2.5 and PM10 the primary pollutants.

Toxic Foam Returns To Yamuna As Delhi-NCR Air Quality Slips To 'Unhealthy'

• Cleaning programme: 43 DJB projects totalling Rs 8,941.22 crore.

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• New capacity: 124 MGD sewage-treatment plant at Okhla (cost Rs 1,161 crore).

Amit Shah launches Rs 8,941-crore push to stop sewage from flowing into Yamuna

• STP upgrades: Combined capacity to rise from 78.2 MGD to 140.8 MGD, benefiting ?78.5 lakh people.

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• Decentralised facilities: 29 DSTPs and pumping stations covering 358 unauthorised colonies and 113 villages, serving ?36.29 lakh residents.

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• Sewer network expansion: 1,034 km of new lines, projected to connect ?25.82 lakh households.

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• Water-treatment plant at Chandrawal: 477 MLD capacity, serving ?22 lakh people.

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• Public clean-up: Over 35,000 participants removed 76,755 kg of dry waste and 9,850 kg of green waste during the ‘Chalo Yamuna’ campaign on October 18.

Amit Shah launches Rs 8,941-crore push to stop sewage from flowing into Yamuna

• DJB (Sandeep Verma): Emphasised that defoaming has been carried out annually since 2022 and that the current equipment is DJB-owned.

As foam builds up in Yamuna, questions raised over how work was allotted

• Chief Minister Rekha Gupta: Stated that the government is working “day and night” to deliver a clean, uninterrupted Yamuna within a few years and highlighted the coordinated “four-engine” effort of the Centre, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

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• Union Home Minister Amit Shah: Announced a target to achieve a “purified Yamuna” by May 2029, claiming more than 40 % of the pollution-control work is already complete. He framed the projects as the “backbone” of the river-cleaning effort and noted that the three state governments have prepared a time-bound roadmap.

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the tender process for the defoaming contract was structured to favour a pre-determined contractor. According to AAP, ICON Instruments had begun setting up equipment three days before the bids were scheduled to open, suggesting a breach of fair-procurement norms.

As foam builds up in Yamuna, questions raised over how work was allotted

• The government has scheduled a “Birthday with Yamuna” celebration on November 7, during which Water Minister Parvesh Verma will pledge personal participation.

Amit Shah launches Rs 8,941-crore push to stop sewage from flowing into Yamuna

• CAQM’s Stage 1 GRAP measures remain in force until air-quality targets improve, while the river-cleaning programme proceeds toward the May 2029 purity goal.

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