River rejuvenation is of paramount importance in India, given the country’s heavy dependence on rivers for water security, agriculture and economic sustenance. Most of India’s rivers face severe pollution, depletion and degradation due to urbanisation, industrialisation and unsustainable practices such as discharge of waste and untreated sewage. Rejuvenation efforts seek to revive these waterbodies through comprehensive approaches such as pollution control and sustainable water management practices.
The cleaning and maintenance of rivers helps restore their natural flow, improve water quality, support biodiversity and increase resilience to climate change. To this end, many significant efforts are being made by the government under programmes such as the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), in collaboration with research and academic institutions. Further, several state-level interventions through technological deployments, such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and drone surveillance, are strengthening river rejuvenation efforts in India.
Major strides under government programmes
In recent years, river revitalisation and conservation have assumed growing significance in India’s environmental agenda. To this end, the government has focused on programmes and initiatives to restore and revive the rivers. The major flagship programme, the NMCG is targeting river conservation for the Ganga and its tributaries. Launched in June 2014 with an initial outlay of Rs 200 billion, the programme has been extended to March 2026 with a revised budgetary outlay of Rs 225 billion. Its core interventions include pollution abatement, improvement of the river’s ecological flow, community engagement, and research and evidence-based policymaking. For 2025-26, NMCG has been allocated Rs 34 billion to advance critical initiatives such as expanding sewage treatment infrastructure and improving water quality. In a significant recent development, an annual master plan for the River Cities Alliance has been approved under the programme in April 2025. It outlines important initiatives for the year, including capacity building, knowledge sharing and technical tool development for integrating river conservation into urban planning. This will be further enabled through training programmes on River-Sensitive Master Planning across states.
In addition, the AMRUT programme emphasises key infrastructure developments and interventions focusing on water conservation, and treatment of wastewater and its reuse. These play a major role in the rejuvenation of waterbodies. Under the programme, the central government in May 2025 has approved Rs 8 billion for the Delhi Jal Board to provide sewer connections in slum areas. This initiative is for the revival of the Yamuna river by addressing unchecked sewage discharge from these areas into the river. Moreover, the central government has intensified its focus on the Yamuna river by directing all stakeholders to adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach to restoring the river’s health. The key measures recommended include the formulation of a standard operating procedure for sewage treatment plants (STPs), along with setting benchmarks for their quality, maintenance and discharge standards.
Recent highlights at the state level
States across India are increasingly institutionalising river rejuvenation through integrated planning, interdepartmental coordination and targeted pollution control efforts. In line with this, in June 2025, Tamil Nadu’s Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust initiated a major effort to restore 70 km of the Kosasthalaiyar river. In collaboration with the Water Resources Department, Tamil Nadu, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the Greater Chennai Corporation, the project focuses on curbing sewage outflows into the river and undertaking a comprehensive study for river rejuvenation. The initiative reflects an urban-centric approach to curb the discharge of untreated wastewater into rivers and tackle river pollution at source.
In a parallel development, the Kerala government has approved a state-level framework for river basin conservation. The Kerala River Basin Conservation and Management Authority will oversee the river conservation efforts. The authority brings together key departments under a unified governance model aimed at improving water resource administration and monitoring. This marks a significant step towards decentralised and ecosystem-based river water resource management through efficient administration, and strict monitoring and assessment.
In Delhi, a plethora of multifaceted approaches are being adopted to rejuvenate and clean the Yamuna river. As of June 2025, the Delhi government is working to enhance the environmental flow (e-flow) of the Yamuna river by diverting treated wastewater from the Okhla STP. This initiative is expected to enhance the e-flow of the river by 5.69 cubic metres per second (cumecs). The Yamuna river requires an e-flow of 23 cumecs, while it currently stands at only about 10 cumecs. Expected to improve water quality and reduce frothing in key river stretches, this intervention demonstrates the potential of reuse-based strategies in river rejuvenation. Likewise, the Uttar Pradesh government is working on a statewide vision for rivers such as Gomti, Hindon and Varuna. The vision aims to emphasise zero liquid discharge (ZLD), public participation and decentralised monitoring for reviving these rivers.
Developing robust planning frameworks with research institutions
India’s river rejuvenation efforts are being increasingly driven by strategic collaborations between the government and research institutions, leveraging their expertise in research and development for sustainable river management. A notable example is a recent initiative by IIT Delhi. It has outlined a strategic plan for the establishment of a centre of excellence (CoE) under the Ind-Rivers initiative. Developed in collaboration with the NMCG and the government of the Netherlands, the CoE aims to serve as a national hub for applied research, capacity building and incubation of start-ups in the water sector. Its focus areas include development of urban river management plans, deployment of digital twin technology and AI-driven geospatial modelling for addressing emerging water pollutants, especially plastics.
Complementing these efforts, The Energy and Resources Institute has devised a 10-point action plan for the revival of the Yamuna river in Delhi by 2028. The plan calls for ensuring the minimum amount of water a river needs to maintain its ecological balance and sustain itself or the e-flow. This can be done by revisiting the 1994 water-sharing treaty, strengthening river surveillance, periodic desilting of drains and enhancing the efficiency of STPs. It also highlights the need to track non-point source pollutants such as ammonia to curb eutrophication, regulate sand mining, and clean 22 major and minor drains. Additional measures include promoting micro STPs, banning direct discharge of laundry wastewater, removing water hyacinth and unifying key water management bodies under a single framework.
Important technological deployments
India is increasingly integrating modern technologies to support river rejuvenation efforts. Key developments include drone-based surveys and the deployment of smart tools for decentralised and data-driven river management. The use of drones has picked up pace for surveying waterbodies and drains. The Government of Delhi has commenced a drone survey of small drains to evaluate the discharge of untreated wastewater into larger drains and eventually into the Yamuna river in Delhi. The drone survey will help assess the origin, map and outflow of the small drains. On similar lines, in June 2025, a drone and light detection and ranging survey was launched to locate all the drains flowing into the Ganga river. The survey intends to identify the drains and devise necessary actions to mitigate the discharge of pollutants into the river.
Key future pathways
Going forward, India is endeavouring to adopt a holistic, technology-enabled and community-driven approach to revitalise its rivers. Future strategies should integrate river and groundwater management to tackle growing depletion and ensure better outcomes. Further, strengthening decentralised models, rooted in local ownership and supported by public awareness programmes such as river literacy campaigns, will be key to building long-term river stewardship, particularly among the youth.
Technological integration is poised to play a defining role, with tools such as AI, real-time water level and quality monitoring systems, and decision support platforms enabling smarter management of water quality and pollutant loads. Expanding the use of ZLD systems and promoting treated water reuse also offer promising solutions. A key illustration was seen at Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, where ZLD was implemented at a large scale for wastewater treatment from over 150,000 toilets using soak-pits, fibre-reinforced plastic units and mobile treatment units.
A multifaceted approach that integrates traditional techniques with modern practices and scientific methods is crucial to restoring rivers and ensuring their vitality for the generations to come.
Aditi Gupta
