Long before the Yamuna reaches the national capital, its decline is already well underway, fed not by one district but by a network of steadily worsening inflows across Haryana, according to a report by The
Times of India.
While Gurugram contributes the lion’s share, nearly 70% of the pollution load entering the river from the state, it is only part of a much larger problem. Data from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) indicates that Sonipat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Faridabad are also significant contributors, collectively turning Yamuna river into a heavily contaminated stream upstream of Delhi.
Between 2021 and 2025, monitoring by HSPCB reveals an uneven yet cumulative trend. Gurgaon’s Najafgarh drain legs I, II and III, along with Basai and Badshahpur drains, have consistently emerged as the biggest pollution channels. At the same time, additional inflows from Sonipat’s drainage system and chemically concentrated discharges from Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Faridabad have made it increasingly difficult for the river to recover as it flows onward.
By mid-2025, dissolved oxygen levels had dropped to near zero in several stretches within Delhi, conditions in which aquatic life cannot survive. In Gurgaon, the deterioration is particularly stark. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), a critical measure of organic pollution, climbed from 35-45 mg/L in 2021 to 170 mg/L in 2025 in major drains, far exceeding the safe limit of 3 mg/L and even the 6 mg/L benchmark associated with severe sewage contamination, as per the TOI report.
Total suspended solids reached 612 mg/L, while faecal coliform levels surged to 4.7 lakh MPN per 100 ml, signalling heavy discharge of untreated sewage.
An HSPCB official reportedly said the worsening numbers reflect pressure from rapid urbanisation and weak sewer connectivity. Interception and diversion works are underway, the official said, but some drains are still carrying untreated wastewater.
The Badshahpur drain illustrates the complexity of Gurgaon’s pollution. Its BOD levels rose to 120 mg/L, while conductivity hit 96,000 S/cm, an indicator of a toxic mix of domestic sewage and industrial effluents.
Sonipat, though often overlooked, is increasingly emerging as a key contributor due to its geographical position in the basin, said the TOI report. Drains such as Otmac and Sindhra recorded BOD levels rising from 28-42 mg/L in 2021 to 110 mg/L in 2025. Unlike Gurgaon, where sewage dominates, Sonipat’s pollution appears more varied, comprising untreated urban wastewater, agricultural runoff, and partially treated discharge from sewage plants. Suspended solids exceeding 300 mg/L further aggravate downstream water quality.
Jhajjar and Bhiwani, though contributing smaller volumes, add a significant chemical burden. By 2025, BOD levels in Mungeshpur drain and drain No. 8 had risen to between 72 and 145 mg/L, while hardness levels reached as high as 4,450 mg/L, pointing to industrial waste rich in dissolved salts.
Faridabad presents a relatively stable yet persistently polluted picture. BOD levels ranged between 40 and 72 mg/L, conductivity remained above 2,000 S/cm, and faecal coliform counts climbed to 24,000 MPN per 100 ml in 2025, reflecting ongoing sewage inflow.
The problem is not confined to these districts alone. In Rohtak, the Jindal Vihar drain reportedly contributes around 7% of the pollution load entering the river, further compounding the crisis.
Environmental activist Varun Gulati said the figures point to a systemic failure, not isolated lapses. “The Yamuna has been receiving untreated waste from multiple entry points. Even if one city improves treatment capacity, the cumulative load from neighbouring districts ensures the river remains biologically dead by the time it reaches Delhi,” he said.
