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Context and Policy Shift
The recent alignment between the Delhi state government and the Centre has renewed focus on cleaning the Yamuna River, a key urban waterway burdened by pollution. This initiative complements the broader Namami Gange Programme (NGP) and has potential to become a replicable model for urban river restoration through cooperative federalism.
Namami Gange Programme: A Strategic Pivot
Launched in 2014, the NGP marks a shift from earlier regulatory models of pollution control (under the Ministry of Environment) to a mission-based executive framework led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. This approach reorients river management toward ecological restoration and integrated planning.
Adoption of the River Basin Approach
The programme adopts a river basin planning model, drawing from expert institutions like the IITs. This aligns with global best practices, particularly the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR), which pioneered integrated river management in Europe post-1950.
Institutional Innovations and Multi-Level Governance
The 2016 River Ganga Authorities Order established a layered institutional framework:
- National Ganga Council (NGC) chaired by the Prime Minister
- Empowered Task Force under the Union Jal Shakti Minister
- Executive Council led by the Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
- State and District Ganga Committees, recognizing subnational roles
Challenges to Subnational Engagement
Despite institutional mechanisms, state-level participation remains limited:
- Legal and financial frameworks at the state level are often insufficient.
- Lack of political and administrative ownership by basin states threatens the long-term success of NGP initiatives.
Delhi’s Yamuna Initiative: A Policy Microcosm
The Yamuna’s restoration efforts in Delhi highlight core governance challenges:
- Over 80% of the pollution load originates from untreated sewage within the city, underscoring the link between urban governance and water quality.
- The Yamuna’s interstate river status makes it a testbed for interjurisdictional cooperation under NGP.
Scalability and Federal Coordination
Delhi’s model offers a learning opportunity for developing scalable and federated frameworks. It enables deeper exploration of drivers that can mobilize state-level action and accountability within broader river rejuvenation missions.
Learning from International Experience
Europe’s environmental response—spurred by events like the Sandoz chemical spill—led to robust institutions and laws, such as the EU Water Framework Directive. Similarly, India’s NGP can evolve by strengthening its intergovernmental mechanisms and fostering institutional partnerships.
Conclusion: Towards Holistic Water Governance
The Yamuna project can serve as a catalyst for more effective subnational engagement, integrated urban water management, and federal cooperation in environmental governance. If leveraged strategically, it could strengthen India’s broader framework for sustainable water management and environmental federalism.
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