Increasing Pollution Level in River Yamuna¡ªA Challenge to Sustainable Development of an Urban Centre,Delhi,India

Abstract

Water quality degradation is a serious and rapidly growing problem in expanding cities of India where unprecedented and unplanned urbanization accompanied by rapid industrial development are the major causal factors. Delhi, the capital city of India, is facing the problem of water pollution since the last few decades. In the present study different physico-chemical and biological parameters (i.e. COD, BOD, DO, TKN, AMM, WT, TC and FC) of water are analysed to assess the changing quality of water over the period of twelve years (1995–2006) and to evaluate the impact of Yamuna Action Plans on water quality. With the help of time series analysis method changing trend of pollutants is estimated, and value for the future is also calculated. The primary data collected are from 1896 households to examine the relationship between outdoor and indoor pollution levels. The analysis reveals that despite the implementation of Yamuna Action Plan I and II, the pollutants are well above the standard limit set by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). For the mitigation and management of this problem in the sustainable urban development perspectives certain relevant measures are also suggested.