Yamuna River Story

River Yamuna is fifth longest river of India. For past many centuries the river has been integral part of Indian culture. It has been sustaining means of livelihoods to millions. Many, in pursuit of spiritual inspiration venerate it with great hope. But at present, the river is more in news for its highly polluted state. In this blog SANDRP attempts to presents the picture of the River Yamuna. The blog also briefly mentions the places of cultural, religious, historical and environmental significance on and around the river, pointing out the various factors which has led to present state of the river. 

Introduction River Yamuna originates from frozen Champasar lake located in Bandarpooch Glacier at a height of 6387 meters (380 59′ N 780 27′ E) in Har-Ki-Doon mountain range of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. It runs through series of snow capped and forested valleys in Himalaya before entering the Indo-Gangetic plains of north India. After traversing for 1376 km finally the river merges into River Ganga at Allahabad, UP.

A view of Bandarpunch Glacier

Scared places along River Yamuna The origin point of River Yamuna is famously known as Yamnotri shrine. It is listed among four prominent pilgrimage places (Char Dham) in Uttarakhand and thousands of pilgrims thronged to it every year. In fact Yamnotri is considered as first shrine to be visited while on this pilgrimage. Entire Yamuna valley is full of many scared shrine and mythological sites devoted to saints and legends of ancient era.

A list of prominent holy shrines and mythological sites is mentioned in below Table-1.

Table 1

No	site	Place	Remarks
1	Than Temple, Uttarkashi	Uttarakhand	Devoted to Yamdagni Rishi the father of Lord Prashuram.
2	Gangani/ Triveni Uttarkashi	Uttarakhand	It is believed that an undercurrent joins the river Yamuna. Badyar River coming from Har-Ki-Doon is also known as Brahm Ganga lending the site name of Triveni (confluence point of three rivers). In a small temple idols of River Ganga & Yamuna are placed and worshipped by locals and visitors.
3	Lakhamandal, Burni Gad, Tehri Garhwal	Uttarakhand	In recent past during excavation lakhs of Shivlingas were unearthed at the site since then it is protected by in Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
4	Ganganani, Tehri Garhwal	Uttarakhand	Second place where Ganga water is believed meeting Yamuna River
5	Hathiyari, Dehradun	Uttarakhand	The site is believed to be the place where Pandavs hid all their weapons while undergoing the exile period.
6	Barwala, Dehradun	Uttarakhand	This site is also associated with Pandavas
7	Ashvmegh Yagh Sathal, Dehradun	Uttarakhand	The site is under ASI protection and mentioned as an ancient site.
8	Gautam Rishi Ashram, Dehradun	Uttarakhand	This is the 3rd site where an undercurrent of Ganga River is believed meeting to Yamuna River. There are several water bodies filled by water coming out from ground.
9	Poanta Shahib Guru Dwara	Himachal Pradesh	Religious place of Sikh community.
10	Issupur Tilla, Baghpat	UP	Many earthen pots belonging to Mahabharta era has been unearthed here recently.
11	Surya Kund Temple, Yamuna Nagar	Haryana	The water body is believed to be the site where Yaksha questioned Pandavs during exile.
12	Karnal	Haryana	Believed to be the city of sixth Pandav, Karan
13	Laksha Grah	Merut	The site has caves and structures believed to be related with Pandavas.
14	9 Gaja Peer	Delhi	A famous  Dargah
15	Majnu Ka Tilla	Delhi	Associated with Sikh Guru Nanak
16	Indrapratha	Delhi	The new city that Pandavas created
17	Nigam Bodh Ghat	Delhi	The crematorium site sanctified by Lord Brahama
18	Virndavan, Mathura	UP	These places associated with Lord Krishna
19	Brajdham	UP	Entry and exit point of River Yamuna in Braj is considered as pious and annually pilgrims do Parikrama (go-round visit) also known as 80 Kose Braj Parikrama journey.
20	Oba, Mathura	UP	Place of Balram elder brother of Krishana
21	Gadaya Mathura	UP	The place of Guru Gargacharya, the teacher of Lord Krishana
22	Renuka Ashram Mathura	UP	The birth place of Lord Parshuram
23	Bateshwar, Agra	UP	108 Shiva temple are built on Yamuna Bank
24	Sujawan Dewata	UP	An ancient Shiva temple located in middle of River Yamuna at Ghoorpur, Allahabad.
25	Sangam	UP	Confluence point of River Ganga and Yamuna

Besides this there are many more religious and mythological sites not fully known about but present inseparable connection between River Yamuna and the era they belong to.

Before Sangam, Ganga is believed meeting Yamuna thrice in Uttarkhand. Some scriptures hold River Yamuna holier than River Ganga and prescribe sip of Yamuna water and dip in Ganga water (Yamuna Pan, Ganga Snan) of utmost significance. 

According holy books Yamuna is Daughter of Lord Sun and sister of Yamraj (God of Death) and Shani (God of punishment). Hence it is believed that taking a bath in Yamuna absolves one of worldly sins. Yamuna river is also called Jamuna and Kalndi at different places along its course. The life of Lord Krishana is profoundly related to River Yamuna.

Pustimarg and Yamuna Ji

 Yamuna River personified as Goddess Sri Yamuna Ji

“Pushtimarg” is a 500 year old sect of Hindu Religion, founded by Shri Vallabhacharya one of the five main Acharyas of the Hindu Religion. Pushtimarg is made up of two words Pushti and Marg. Marg means path, here it means path to go near God. The devotional movement is based on the idea that love of God should be seen as an end in itself, not as a means to something else. Krishna is the chief deity of the sect. Yamuna is worshiped as his fourth consort (chaturth Patrani) and is the goddess who ordered Shri Vallabhacharya to recite Shrimad Bhagwat near her banks. It is for Yamuna, Vallabhacharya composed Shri Yamunashtakam. In Pustimarg Yamuna River has three forms: spiritual, physical and of a goddess and without River Yamuna worshipping rituals are considered incomplete. 

Every year on the sixth day of summer Navratra, the birthday of Yamuna is celebrated in Mathura. The festival of Bhaiya Dooj is also devoted to the love of Yamraj and Yamuna River. Besides this thousands of people every month take dip in Yamuna River at various places on occasion of full moon and no-moon nights and during Sunday and Saturday to get rid of sins and worldly woes. 

Table-2: Historical places and monuments related with River Yamuna

SN	Historical places	States
1	Smrat Ashoka Column	Uttarakhand
2	Raja Ratan Amol Singh Fort, Yamuna Nagar	HR
3	Hathini Kund	HR
4	Panipat Battle field	HR
5	Kudsyia Ghat	Delhi
6	Red Fort	Delhi
7	Old fort	Delhi
8	Shershah Fort, Sher Garh Mathura	UP
9	Taj Mahal Agra	UP
10	Bareh Fort, Etawah	UP

Yamuna Basin profile River Yamuna accounts for 7.10 % of the total geographical area of the country. The states of Uttarakhand (21.5%), Himachal Pradesh (1.6%), Haryana (6.5%), Rajasthan (29.8%), Madhya Pradesh (40.6%) and Delhi (0.4%) accounts for its basin. It drains an area of 366,223 square km in the Gangetic plain and constitutes 40.2% of Ganga Basin.

 Yamuna Basin Map

River Yamuna provides sustenance to about 57 million people throughout its course. The river annually carries 10,000 cubic billon meters (CBM) of water of with 4400 cbm is used for irrigation. It also supplies 70 percent of Delhi’s potable water.

Yamuna River passes through 4 agroclimatic zones and 3 agro-ecological zones with inhabited by diverse communities. The famous town on river Yamuna are Vikas Nagar (Uttarakhand) Poanta Sahib (HP), Yamuna Nagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Faridabad (HR), Saharanpur, Muzzafarnagar, Shamli, Meerut, Gaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Virandavan, Mathura, Agra, Bateshwar, Itawa, Kanpur and Allahabad in UP. 

Table-3: Important Tributaries of Yamuna

States	SN	Name	Length KM
Uttarakhand	1	Hanuman Ganga	10*
	2	Badyar Gad	25*
	3	Kamal Ganga	20*
	4	Burni Gad	15*
	5	Aglar	20*
	6	Asan	50*
Himachal Pradesh	7	Tons	120*
	8	Giri	100*
	9	Bata	30*
Haryana	10	Somb	40*
Delhi	11	Sabi	30*
Uttar Pradesh	12	Maskara	50*
	13	Katha	60*
	14	Hindon	400
	15	Karwan	80*
	16	Gambhir	288
	17	Chambal	960
	18	Sind	415
	19	Betwa	590
	20	Ken	427
	21	Sengar	304
	22	Sasur Khaderi	40

*Approximate length

Over 70 rivers feeds River Yamuna. Many smaller streams have not been included in the list. Most of Yamuna’s tributaries are now dry or polluted, except Ken, Sind, Betwa, Chambal and few others which revive River Yamuna in lower segment. Most of the larger tributaries also emanate from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh but joins the river in UP region. 

Pachnada (Fiver Rivers) is a special place in Etawah where five rivers meet

Table-4: Wildlife sanctuaries/ protected areas/ national parks in Yamuna basin

SN	State	Wildlife sanctuaries/ Protected areas/ National Parks	District
1	Uttarakhand	Govindpur Pashuvihar	Uttarkashi
2	Himachal	Churdhar Sanctuary	Sirmaur
3	Uttarakhand	Raja Ji Sanctuary	Dehradun
4	Haryana	Kalesar National Park	Yamuna Nagar
5	Rajasthan	Sariska National Park	Alwar
		Ranthambore National Park	Sawai Madhopur
		Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary	Bharatpur
		National Chambal Ghariyal Sanctuary	Bharatpur, others
6	Madhya Pradesh	Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary	Sheopur
		Panna National Park	Chhatarpur
		National Chambal Ghariyal Sanctuary	Morena
		Ken Ghariyal Sanctuary	Panna/ Chhatarpur
7	Uttar Pradesh	Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary	Agra
		Lion Wildlife Safari	Etawah
		Agra / Etawah

Aquatic and Riparian wildlife  The pisciculture is neither practiced on large scale nor undertaken in organized manner in the river Yamuna. However, the entire river stretch and tributaries is being utilized for fishing in unorganized manner.

In Himalaya stretch the Aglar River, Nain Bagh is locally popular for its fish varieties and numbers. Local residents now report of sharp decline in Mahseer fish numbers in and around Dakpathar, Dehradun stretch.

Aquatic Birds and Ghariyal on Chambal River bank

In Yamuna Nagar Haryana a survey titled The Abundance of Avifauna in an Agricultural Landscape: A Benefit of Community Conservation Initiatives in Haryana, India published in Indian Journal of Science and Technology in 2014 have recorded 79 riparian and aquatic bird species inhabiting and visiting River Yamuna and local tributaries Somb and Thapana. Peace Institute Survey in 2012 even found Mahseer fish in Thapana river.

For next 200 km between Hathini Kund Barrage Haryana and Wazirabad Barrage Delhi, River Yamuna has turned seasonal flowing for few months in a year. Lack of flow in river has severely impacted the river, including the variety of aquatic life. However few fishermen obtain fishing permit from Haryana Fisheries Board and report recurring annual losses due to non availability of waters in the river.

Downstream of Delhi, upto Etawah for about 600 km River Yamuna remains highly polluted and rarely supports aquatic life except few water birds and turtles. 

At Etawah River Chambal with adequate flow and relatively clean water joins the River Yamuna. As a result Dolphin, Ghariyal, Turtles, several numbers of aquatic birds and fishes are easily visible downstream of Chambal-Yamuna confluence, upto Allahabad.

Table-5: List of barrages on Yamuna

SN	Name of Barrage	State
1	Dakpathar, Dehradun	Uttarakhand
2	Hathini Kund, Yamuna Nagar	HR
	Wazirabad	Delhi
4	I.T.O. Barrage	Delhi
5	Okhala	Delhi
6	Gokul, Mathura	UP

All these barrages are in first 700 km stretch of River Yamuna. Delhi in a span of 22 KM has built 3 barrages on it. Dakpathar is the first barrage on Yamuna and Hathini Kund is reason behind a dry Yamuna in lean season. All these barrages have damaged the natural integrity of the river. Despite that all the riparian states are planning to build more barrages. Katapathar Barrage, Uttarakhand, Panipat Barrage HR and Agra Barrage, UP are the three new barrages being discussed by respective states govt. Delhi is also discussing a barrage at Palla. The ITO barrage in Delhi is no longer serving any useful purpose and needs to be decommissioned at the earliest.

Major Challenges faced by River Yamuna From the threats point of view River Yamuna can be divided into four segments (mentioned in table-6) and every segment is facing its own different kind of challenges and threats.

Table 6

SN	Segments	Approximate Length in KM	Area	Threats
1	Himalayan	200	Yamnotri,Uttarakand up Hathini Kund Barrage (HKB) HR	Hydro Power Projects, Dams & Barrages, Stone Mining, Dumping of debris, Dumping of solid waste, Receding Glaciers, Deforestation , Climate Change
2	Upper	200	HKB, HR to Wazirabad Barrage, Delhi (WBD)	Lack of flow, Sand Mining, Water intensive and chemical farming, Industrial Pollution
3	Middle	500	WBD to Chambal River Etawah, UP	Industrial and sewage pollution, Sand Mining, Chemical Farming, Floodplain Encroachment
4	Lower	500	Chambal River to confluence with River Ganga at Allahabad	Flattening of Ravines, Sand Mining, Use of blasting and poison in fishing

Himalayan Segment (Yamnotri Uttarkashi to HKB HR) SANDRP has mentioned in its June 2015 Blog that how built and ongoing dams and hydro projects are biggest threat to River Yamuna in hilly states of Uttarakhand and HP. SANDRP also has highlighted how small hydro projects are playing havoc with the River Yamuna and dependent communities. There is no re-think in govt. policies so far. Moreover, muck dumping from these projects and debris from road construction has increased the river bed level. Shrinking forest areas and receding of glaciers for past few decades have turned many streams run dry, thus reducing the overall water volume flowing in the river. Old human habitations and market areas are fast expanding on river banks and in turn are dumping all solid and liquid waste in River Yamuna and its tributaries. A case of Vikas Nagar, Dehradun is worth mention where the Municipal Council, Vikasnagar  is officially dumping tons of solid waste everyday on River Yamuna banks which is washed downstream during annual floods.

Upper Segment (HKB to WBD) River Yamuna struggles to survive in absence of adequate flow downstream HKB, HR. For next 200 km no key tributary meets the river and illegal sand mining is rampant further aggravating ecological problems. Meanwhile industrial pollution from Yamuna Nagar, Karnal, Panipat & Sonipat the adjoining HR districts is disposed relentlessly in the river by drain number 8 and 6 in turn. Kindly read SANDRP detailed blog on this. The water intensive and chemical farming in the catchment area is also negatively impacting the river. Illegal sand mining has hampered the process of ground water recharge and cultivation of water demanding crops such a poplar, paddy and sugarcane is fast over drafting the shallow aquifers which deprives the river with lean season flow.

Yamuna Basin Map (SANDRP) showing existing and proposed power projects and dams on Yamuna River

Middle Stretch WBD to Etawah The stretch is about 500 km long and is heavily polluted. After Delhi, downstream cities of Noida, Faridabad, Mathura and Agra dump all sort of industrial and domestic waste water in Yamuna. Moreover many UP districts like Saharanpur, Shamli, Baghpat Gaziabad, Merut etc located in catchment area dispose all their polluted water into Yamuna via Hindon and Karwan Rivers.

The dry and polluted stretch of River Yamuna

As a result level of pollution in Yamuna River exceeds the permissible level of pollution for Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand etc and has been declared as most polluted river of India. Delhi with 2% of length causes almost 70% of total pollution to it. According latest report 58% of sewerage the city generates flows untreated in the river. Over Rs 1500 core have been spent through three phases of Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) in spite of that, the level of pollution is only increasing. 

Lower Stretch (Etawah to Allahabad) In the about 500 long km stretch number of big tributaries such as Chambal, Sind, Ken, Betwa falls in Yamuna. As a result Dolphins, Ghariyals, Turtles and many fish species are found inhabiting the stretch. However, use of poison and blasting in fishing, sand mining, levelling of ravine areas have started impacting the revived river.

Moreover  ongoing work of 3300 MW Bara and 1980 MW Karchhana thermal power plant in Allahabad district is presenting newer threats to River Yamuna and local people. The power plants are being built by Jaypee Group and Prayagraj Power Generation Company respectively. They will source water from Yamuna River which in summers sustains low flows.  Local people are protesting but the State Govt. is going ahead with the plans. Sources reveal that these power plants would render key lift irrigation projects defunct in turn impacting the livelihoods of over 1 lakh people.

The proposed Ken Betwa River Link, if taken up, will have huge adverse impacts on not only Ken and Betwa rivers, but also on Yamuna. Amid this, one more 2400 MW thermal power plant is planned at Chitrakoot district by Bajaj Power Generation. This project will too source water from Yamuna and in turn render the local lift irrigation project at Bargah village in Mau useless.

Sujavan temple Ghoorpur Allahabad

Summing up River Yamuna has been elevated to the status of a divine mother for the thousands of countrymen and has been held responsible for nurturing and developing the Indian civilization. Yamuna River is the largest tributary to River Ganga and at the same time the most polluted river of India. Its banks are still inhabited by several religious, mythological places, historical sites all along the course. Despite grossly polluted, it continues to sustain livelihoods of millions of people. Due to dams, hydro and other projects on Yamuna, there has been great loss of aquatic flora and fauna. In the catchment water resources are gradually shrinking. Increased diversion of water to meet the growing demand is costing the river dearly. During lean season the upper segment of the river remains dry. The middle part of the river is heavily polluted and devoid of ecological functions. The level of pollution has in many ways begun to impact the health and livelihood of people living close to or dependent on it. Several pollution control interventions worth 100s of crore of rupees have yielded no result. Most of the tributaries of the river are also suffering from lack of flow and pollution. It is the lower portion of the river which is still much alive and clean. But construction of projects like the Bara, Karchanna super thermal power plants has posed newer threats to even this stretch. The proposed Ken Betwa River Link, if taken up, will have huge adverse impacts on not only Ken and Betwa rivers, but also on Yamuna. Under such circumstances the future of Yamuna remains bleak.

Bhim Singh Rawat, (we4earth@gmail.com)SANDRP