July 23, 2026

NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move, India’s private airport operators have warned that “considerable time being taken in processing security vetting” is “impacting project implementation schedules, achieving operational efficiencies, commercial preparedness, and ensuring passenger convenience.” The Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO), which represents the 14 PPP airports in India including those in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and represents a lion’s share of air traffic in the country, has written to aviation secretary Samir Sinha on the need for “timely approvals” Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). APAO has sent to Sinha a list of projects’ along with the time it took for them to get BCAS clearance, which ranges from a week to 802 days. The longest time (802 days) has been taken for approving “creation of central kitchen at T2” Bengaluru. Nod for a “new casualty centre facility at T1 CSMIA (Mumbai)” took 664 days; Kochi airport’s “interim floor plan vetting” took 635 days; clearing alternate location for isolation bay at Delhi’s IGIA took 578 days; the nod for IGIA T3 pier C’s conversion from domestic to international took 448 days and “terminal building plan phase 1 of Navin Mumbai Airport” took 340 days.Comments were sought from the aviation ministry on the APAO mail and awaited till the time of going to press. BCAS is an “attached organisation” of the ministry.Operators of these 14 airports – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Goa (Mopa), Hyderabad, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai CSMIA, Navi Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram and Greater Noida – have requested the ministry to “establish turnaround timelines for different proposal categories to facilitate faster processing of proposals critical for operational continuity and passenger service enhancement.” The operators include the Adani Group, GMR and other private players.A former senior official of BCAS said both the operators and the authority were equally to blame for delay in big projects. “Bigger proposals have to e examined in totality from security aspect and we seek clarifications from them regarding the same which are often slow to come by. Then there is too much commercialisation at newer terminals and security is very often not the key consideration while designing those layouts. Then background checks of personnel means sending the same to IB. How long it takes there is beyond us. Most bigger proposals have foreigners as partners, so that takes even longer.”However, the former official admitted that clearance for smaller things, like say a shop, should come faster and that is where BCAS can speed up. “That’s why there is an e-portal where applicants can check the status of their application and see if it is stuck, why so and provide the required inputs. On smaller proposals, BCAS can do better.”The mail written by APAO secretary-general Satyan Nayar says: “….considerable time being taken in processing security vetting approvals for various infrastructure, operational, and reconfiguration proposals submitted by APAO member airports. As airports continue to witness significant passenger and cargo growth, utmost important to undertake timely capacity enhancements, improve passenger facilitation, ensure operational optimization, and augment security infrastructure projects.”“For all this to happen, timely approvals from BCAS becomes highly critical for ensuring smooth execution of these activities and achieve operational readiness. However, it has been observed that a significant number of proposals across member airports are experiencing prolonged timelines at various stages of security vetting approvals.” “In several cases, approvals pertaining to the design stage, final stage and floor plan stages have remained under process for extended durations, thereby impacting project implementation schedules, achieving operational efficiencies, commercial preparedness, and ensuring passenger convenience,” the mail adds.Some examples of how it took to get BCAS nod:The longest wait. 802 days: Central kitchen at Bengaluru T2664 days: New casualty centre at T1, Mumbai635 days: Interim floor plan vetting at T1, Kochi448 days: Converting Delhi Airport T1 Pier C from domestic to international340 days: Terminal building plan phase-I, Navi MumbaiThe fastest nod. 7 days: Strengthening perimeter wall at IGIA(Source: APAO letter)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos37,000 Lives Lost On Known Highway Death Traps In 3 Years: Who Is Responsible?PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts For Paper Leak CasesDelhi Police vs CJP: Dipke Denies Role In ACP Attack, Alleges ‘Outsiders’ Behind ViolenceIndia At UN: J&K Is Integral Part Of India, Pakistan Using Terrorism As State Policy, Says EnvoyJ&K Police Launch Massive Crackdown, Detain Over 2,000 Suspected OGWs After Anantnag Terror AttackBiryani, Langar, Medicines: How India Rallied Behind CJP Protesters At Jantar MantarSC Declines Urgent Hearing On Police Action During ‘Chalo Sansad’ Protest‘Mujhe Maaro, Sir’: CJP Protester Seen In Viral Lathi-Charge Video Recounts Standoff With Cops70 Km To 500 Metres: How India’s Two New Ladakh Bridges Could Transform Border ConnectivityIndia-China Ties Improving? 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The surprising reason behind the tiny white threadsJameela Jamil sparks fierce backlash after calling British people ‘the most evil people in history’123Hot PicksMHT CET merit listDelhi metroCJP ProtestNTA NET Answer KeyDU UG admissionsSBI PO Admit cardTrump tariffDharmendra PradhanMumbai rainTop TrendingOba FemiCJP ProtestersCJPCJP ProtestHyderabad RapeSamras Vidya Setu campaignSupreme CourtZlatan ibrahimovicHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins
NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move, India’s private airport operators have warned that “considerable time being taken in processing security vetting” is “impacting project implementation schedules, achieving operational efficiencies, commercial preparedness, and ensuring passenger convenience.” The Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO), which represents the 14 PPP airports in India including those in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and represents a lion’s share of air traffic in the country, has written to aviation secretary Samir Sinha on the need for “timely approvals” Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). APAO has sent to Sinha a list of projects’ along with the time it took for them to get BCAS clearance, which ranges from a week to 802 days. The longest time (802 days) has been taken for approving “creation of central kitchen at T2” Bengaluru. Nod for a “new casualty centre facility at T1 CSMIA (Mumbai)” took 664 days; Kochi airport’s “interim floor plan vetting” took 635 days; clearing alternate location for isolation bay at Delhi’s IGIA took 578 days; the nod for IGIA T3 pier C’s conversion from domestic to international took 448 days and “terminal building plan phase 1 of Navin Mumbai Airport” took 340 days.Comments were sought from the aviation ministry on the APAO mail and awaited till the time of going to press. BCAS is an “attached organisation” of the ministry.Operators of these 14 airports – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Goa (Mopa), Hyderabad, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai CSMIA, Navi Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram and Greater Noida – have requested the ministry to “establish turnaround timelines for different proposal categories to facilitate faster processing of proposals critical for operational continuity and passenger service enhancement.” The operators include the Adani Group, GMR and other private players.A former senior official of BCAS said both the operators and the authority were equally to blame for delay in big projects. “Bigger proposals have to e examined in totality from security aspect and we seek clarifications from them regarding the same which are often slow to come by. Then there is too much commercialisation at newer terminals and security is very often not the key consideration while designing those layouts. Then background checks of personnel means sending the same to IB. How long it takes there is beyond us. Most bigger proposals have foreigners as partners, so that takes even longer.”However, the former official admitted that clearance for smaller things, like say a shop, should come faster and that is where BCAS can speed up. “That’s why there is an e-portal where applicants can check the status of their application and see if it is stuck, why so and provide the required inputs. On smaller proposals, BCAS can do better.”The mail written by APAO secretary-general Satyan Nayar says: “….considerable time being taken in processing security vetting approvals for various infrastructure, operational, and reconfiguration proposals submitted by APAO member airports. As airports continue to witness significant passenger and cargo growth, utmost important to undertake timely capacity enhancements, improve passenger facilitation, ensure operational optimization, and augment security infrastructure projects.”“For all this to happen, timely approvals from BCAS becomes highly critical for ensuring smooth execution of these activities and achieve operational readiness. However, it has been observed that a significant number of proposals across member airports are experiencing prolonged timelines at various stages of security vetting approvals.” “In several cases, approvals pertaining to the design stage, final stage and floor plan stages have remained under process for extended durations, thereby impacting project implementation schedules, achieving operational efficiencies, commercial preparedness, and ensuring passenger convenience,” the mail adds.Some examples of how it took to get BCAS nod:The longest wait. 802 days: Central kitchen at Bengaluru T2664 days: New casualty centre at T1, Mumbai635 days: Interim floor plan vetting at T1, Kochi448 days: Converting Delhi Airport T1 Pier C from domestic to international340 days: Terminal building plan phase-I, Navi MumbaiThe fastest nod. 7 days: Strengthening perimeter wall at IGIA(Source: APAO letter)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos37,000 Lives Lost On Known Highway Death Traps In 3 Years: Who Is Responsible?PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts For Paper Leak CasesDelhi Police vs CJP: Dipke Denies Role In ACP Attack, Alleges ‘Outsiders’ Behind ViolenceIndia At UN: J&K Is Integral Part Of India, Pakistan Using Terrorism As State Policy, Says EnvoyJ&K Police Launch Massive Crackdown, Detain Over 2,000 Suspected OGWs After Anantnag Terror AttackBiryani, Langar, Medicines: How India Rallied Behind CJP Protesters At Jantar MantarSC Declines Urgent Hearing On Police Action During ‘Chalo Sansad’ Protest‘Mujhe Maaro, Sir’: CJP Protester Seen In Viral Lathi-Charge Video Recounts Standoff With Cops70 Km To 500 Metres: How India’s Two New Ladakh Bridges Could Transform Border ConnectivityIndia-China Ties Improving? Jaishankar Welcomes Confidence-Building Steps, Raises Supply Concerns123PhotostoriesChoose the best wallet color for Men according to your birth dateDating green flags that matter more than money and looks: 7 signs that reveal someone is emotionally mature, trustworthy and genuinely ready for a healthy, lasting relationship5 Vishnu Mantras That Can Transform Your Life10 ancient cities that vanished without warning: From Pompeii to Mohenjo-daroBigg Boss Tamil 10: A look back at the reality show’s decade-long journeyBrain health starts young: 5 habits every young adult should adopt for a sharper mind, according to neurologistOne power word can change your mood; based on your birth dateStop throwing away lemon peels and mix them with vinegar in a jar: 5 lesser-known uses of this simple combinationWhy do bananas have those annoying stringy fibres? The surprising reason behind the tiny white threadsJameela Jamil sparks fierce backlash after calling British people ‘the most evil people in history’123Hot PicksMHT CET merit listDelhi metroCJP ProtestNTA NET Answer KeyDU UG admissionsSBI PO Admit cardTrump tariffDharmendra PradhanMumbai rainTop TrendingOba FemiCJP ProtestersCJPCJP ProtestHyderabad RapeSamras Vidya Setu campaignSupreme CourtZlatan ibrahimovicHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19


'Considerable time:' Private airport operators flag BCAS clearance delays with Govt

NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move, India’s private airport operators have warned that “considerable time being taken in processing security vetting” is “impacting project implementation schedules, achieving operational efficiencies, commercial preparedness, and ensuring passenger convenience.” The Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO), which represents the 14 PPP airports in India including those in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and represents a lion’s share of air traffic in the country, has written to aviation secretary Samir Sinha on the need for “timely approvals” Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). APAO has sent to Sinha a list of projects’ along with the time it took for them to get BCAS clearance, which ranges from a week to 802 days. The longest time (802 days) has been taken for approving “creation of central kitchen at T2” Bengaluru. Nod for a “new casualty centre facility at T1 CSMIA (Mumbai)” took 664 days; Kochi airport’s “interim floor plan vetting” took 635 days; clearing alternate location for isolation bay at Delhi’s IGIA took 578 days; the nod for IGIA T3 pier C’s conversion from domestic to international took 448 days and “terminal building plan phase 1 of Navin Mumbai Airport” took 340 days.Comments were sought from the aviation ministry on the APAO mail and awaited till the time of going to press. BCAS is an “attached organisation” of the ministry.Operators of these 14 airports – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Goa (Mopa), Hyderabad, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai CSMIA, Navi Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram and Greater Noida – have requested the ministry to “establish turnaround timelines for different proposal categories to facilitate faster processing of proposals critical for operational continuity and passenger service enhancement.” The operators include the Adani Group, GMR and other private players.A former senior official of BCAS said both the operators and the authority were equally to blame for delay in big projects. “Bigger proposals have to e examined in totality from security aspect and we seek clarifications from them regarding the same which are often slow to come by. Then there is too much commercialisation at newer terminals and security is very often not the key consideration while designing those layouts. Then background checks of personnel means sending the same to IB. How long it takes there is beyond us. Most bigger proposals have foreigners as partners, so that takes even longer.”However, the former official admitted that clearance for smaller things, like say a shop, should come faster and that is where BCAS can speed up. “That’s why there is an e-portal where applicants can check the status of their application and see if it is stuck, why so and provide the required inputs. On smaller proposals, BCAS can do better.”The mail written by APAO secretary-general Satyan Nayar says: “….considerable time being taken in processing security vetting approvals for various infrastructure, operational, and reconfiguration proposals submitted by APAO member airports. As airports continue to witness significant passenger and cargo growth, utmost important to undertake timely capacity enhancements, improve passenger facilitation, ensure operational optimization, and augment security infrastructure projects.”“For all this to happen, timely approvals from BCAS becomes highly critical for ensuring smooth execution of these activities and achieve operational readiness. However, it has been observed that a significant number of proposals across member airports are experiencing prolonged timelines at various stages of security vetting approvals.” “In several cases, approvals pertaining to the design stage, final stage and floor plan stages have remained under process for extended durations, thereby impacting project implementation schedules, achieving operational efficiencies, commercial preparedness, and ensuring passenger convenience,” the mail adds.

Some examples of how it took to get BCAS nod:

  • The longest wait. 802 days: Central kitchen at Bengaluru T2
  • 664 days: New casualty centre at T1, Mumbai
  • 635 days: Interim floor plan vetting at T1, Kochi
  • 448 days: Converting Delhi Airport T1 Pier C from domestic to international
  • 340 days: Terminal building plan phase-I, Navi Mumbai
  • The fastest nod. 7 days: Strengthening perimeter wall at IGIA

(Source: APAO letter)



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Vamsikrishna 0
NEW DELHI: The government is reaching out to the opposition leaders to break the deadlock in Parliament over the NEET paper leak issue, government sources told news agency ANI on Thursday. This is a fresh effort fromt he government’s side to end the repeated disruptions that have stalled proceedings through the first week of the Monsoon session.According to government sources, the Centre has conveyed to opposition parties that it is ready for a discussion on the alleged NEET paper leak but wants the debate to take place “without any preconditions”, including the opposition’s demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.The government is also likely to convene a meeting of floor leaders soon in an attempt to build consensus on holding the discussion, the sources said.The outreach comes amid a continuing impasse in Parliament, where proceedings have been repeatedly disrupted over the issue.Earlier in the day, Union home minister Amit Shah met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned amid sustained protests by opposition members. Before Shah’s meeting with the Speaker, leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress MPs Saugata Roy and Mahua Moitra were among the opposition leaders who met Birla.During Question Hour, the Speaker had asked opposition leaders to meet him to discuss the duration and scheduling of a debate on the NEET paper leak issue.The government has maintained that it is prepared for a discussion but has accused the opposition of insisting on Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as a condition for participating in the debate. Opposition parties have been demanding accountability over the alleged examination irregularities and have pressed for the minister to step down.The Monsoon session, which began on Monday, has witnessed repeated adjournments as opposition parties protested over the NEET paper leak and the alleged theft of donations from the Ram temple. Police action against Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests in Delhi has also figured prominently in the opposition’s protests inside Parliament.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhy The Indian Army Says The Siliguri Corridor Is No Longer A “Chicken’s Neck”?Tehseen Poonawalla Alleges “Gadkari’s Son Got Richer” Over E20 Fuel Policy37,000 Lives Lost On Known Highway Death Traps In 3 Years: Who Is Responsible?PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts For Paper Leak CasesDelhi Police vs CJP: Dipke Denies Role In ACP Attack, Alleges ‘Outsiders’ Behind ViolenceIndia At UN: J&K Is Integral Part Of India, Pakistan Using Terrorism As State Policy, Says EnvoyJ&K Police Launch Massive Crackdown, Detain Over 2,000 Suspected OGWs After Anantnag Terror AttackBiryani, Langar, Medicines: How India Rallied Behind CJP Protesters At Jantar Mantar‘Mujhe Maaro, Sir’: CJP Protester Seen In Viral Lathi-Charge Video Recounts Standoff With Cops70 Km To 500 Metres: How India’s Two New Ladakh Bridges Could Transform Border Connectivity123PhotostoriesWhy does bread smell so irresistible when it’s baking?Think your home is clean? These 7 overlooked spots probably need more attentionArchaeologists believe they have found the world’s oldest clove in an ancient Sri Lankan portThe forgotten Indian textile Princess Diana secretly loved deserves a fashion revivalChoose the best wallet color for Men according to your birth dateDating green flags that matter more than money and looks: 7 signs that reveal someone is emotionally mature, trustworthy and genuinely ready for a healthy, lasting relationship5 Vishnu Mantras That Can Transform Your Life10 ancient cities that vanished without warning: From Pompeii to Mohenjo-daroBigg Boss Tamil 10: A look back at the reality show’s decade-long journeyBrain health starts young: 5 habits every young adult should adopt for a sharper mind, according to neurologist123Hot PicksMHT CET merit listDelhi metroCJP ProtestNTA NET Answer KeyDU UG admissionsSBI PO Admit cardTrump tariffDharmendra PradhanMumbai rainTop TrendingOba FemiCJP ProtestersCJPCJP ProtestHyderabad RapeSamras Vidya Setu campaignSupreme CourtZlatan ibrahimovicHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19

NEW DELHI: The government is reaching out to the opposition leaders to break the deadlock in Parliament over the NEET paper leak issue, government sources told news agency ANI on Thursday. This is a fresh effort fromt he government’s side to end the repeated disruptions that have stalled proceedings through the first week of the Monsoon session.According to government sources, the Centre has conveyed to opposition parties that it is ready for a discussion on the alleged NEET paper leak but wants the debate to take place “without any preconditions”, including the opposition’s demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.The government is also likely to convene a meeting of floor leaders soon in an attempt to build consensus on holding the discussion, the sources said.The outreach comes amid a continuing impasse in Parliament, where proceedings have been repeatedly disrupted over the issue.Earlier in the day, Union home minister Amit Shah met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned amid sustained protests by opposition members. Before Shah’s meeting with the Speaker, leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress MPs Saugata Roy and Mahua Moitra were among the opposition leaders who met Birla.During Question Hour, the Speaker had asked opposition leaders to meet him to discuss the duration and scheduling of a debate on the NEET paper leak issue.The government has maintained that it is prepared for a discussion but has accused the opposition of insisting on Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as a condition for participating in the debate. Opposition parties have been demanding accountability over the alleged examination irregularities and have pressed for the minister to step down.The Monsoon session, which began on Monday, has witnessed repeated adjournments as opposition parties protested over the NEET paper leak and the alleged theft of donations from the Ram temple. Police action against Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests in Delhi has also figured prominently in the opposition’s protests inside Parliament.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhy The Indian Army Says The Siliguri Corridor Is No Longer A “Chicken’s Neck”?Tehseen Poonawalla Alleges “Gadkari’s Son Got Richer” Over E20 Fuel Policy37,000 Lives Lost On Known Highway Death Traps In 3 Years: Who Is Responsible?PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts For Paper Leak CasesDelhi Police vs CJP: Dipke Denies Role In ACP Attack, Alleges ‘Outsiders’ Behind ViolenceIndia At UN: J&K Is Integral Part Of India, Pakistan Using Terrorism As State Policy, Says EnvoyJ&K Police Launch Massive Crackdown, Detain Over 2,000 Suspected OGWs After Anantnag Terror AttackBiryani, Langar, Medicines: How India Rallied Behind CJP Protesters At Jantar Mantar‘Mujhe Maaro, Sir’: CJP Protester Seen In Viral Lathi-Charge Video Recounts Standoff With Cops70 Km To 500 Metres: How India’s Two New Ladakh Bridges Could Transform Border Connectivity123PhotostoriesWhy does bread smell so irresistible when it’s baking?Think your home is clean? These 7 overlooked spots probably need more attentionArchaeologists believe they have found the world’s oldest clove in an ancient Sri Lankan portThe forgotten Indian textile Princess Diana secretly loved deserves a fashion revivalChoose the best wallet color for Men according to your birth dateDating green flags that matter more than money and looks: 7 signs that reveal someone is emotionally mature, trustworthy and genuinely ready for a healthy, lasting relationship5 Vishnu Mantras That Can Transform Your Life10 ancient cities that vanished without warning: From Pompeii to Mohenjo-daroBigg Boss Tamil 10: A look back at the reality show’s decade-long journeyBrain health starts young: 5 habits every young adult should adopt for a sharper mind, according to neurologist123Hot PicksMHT CET merit listDelhi metroCJP ProtestNTA NET Answer KeyDU UG admissionsSBI PO Admit cardTrump tariffDharmendra PradhanMumbai rainTop TrendingOba FemiCJP ProtestersCJPCJP ProtestHyderabad RapeSamras Vidya Setu campaignSupreme CourtZlatan ibrahimovicHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19

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Centre invites protesters for talks NEW DELHI: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday invited the protesters against NEET paper leak for talks at JP Nadda’s place on the central government’s behalf. This comes after the talk on Monday with the Cockroach Janta Party’s spokespersons failed to bear any results.”I wish to share that in the last 24 hours as many as four offers were made to the student representatives for a dialogue. It is my humble appeal to the students on agitation that the government is ready for talks whenever you want, at whichever hour of the day and for as much length of time that you wish to,” he said. Watch ‘This Is Not Done’: Jitendra Singh Claims Rahul Gandhi ‘Changed His Demands’, Hails PM Modi”We are ready to discuss the issue on which the agitation has happened, and all the other related issues as well. The talks can be held with an open mind at the residence of Union health minister JP Nadda and of course I will be accompanying him. The talks could be held at Nadda’s residence or at the office, or whichever of the two you wish to,” he added.He further urged the protester to participate in the talks adding that the “government will go to any extent to safeguard the welfare of the students.””Please come forward so that we find a way out of this situation in the larger interest of the students’ community, youth community and the nation at large. As you would also appreciate, this morning itself, Prime Minister Narendra Modi candidly spelt out that the interest of the students is the foremost for this government. The government will go to any extent to safeguard the welfare of the students. Not only that, but the PM also took a very important decision to set up fast-track courts to deal with the cases related to those responsible for the recent paper leaks so that the final verdicts come early and decisively. Once again, I very humbly, on behalf of the government, invite you to come forward,” he said.Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he had ordered for setting up of fast-track courts “to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.””Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard. This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students. Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared,” he said in a post on X.Thursday’s protest at Jantar Mantar came after overnight clashes between protesters and police, who fired tear gas and used batons to disperse crowds. It marked the second such confrontation in the national capital this week.Despite barricades and heightened security, protesters gathered again at Jantar Mantar. Authorities also shut Delhi Metro services at 16 stations in central Delhi to curb access to the protest site.On Monday, thousands of demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament in defiance of restrictions before police intervened with tear gas and baton charges to stop them.Demonstrators are seeking the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, sweeping reforms to the examination system, and compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following exam leak incidents.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTehseen Poonawalla Alleges “Gadkari’s Son Got Richer” Over E20 Fuel Policy37,000 Lives Lost On Known Highway Death Traps In 3 Years: Who Is Responsible?PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts For Paper Leak CasesDelhi Police vs CJP: Dipke Denies Role In ACP Attack, Alleges ‘Outsiders’ Behind ViolenceIndia At UN: J&K Is Integral Part Of India, Pakistan Using Terrorism As State Policy, Says EnvoyJ&K Police Launch Massive Crackdown, Detain Over 2,000 Suspected OGWs After Anantnag Terror AttackBiryani, Langar, Medicines: How India Rallied Behind CJP Protesters At Jantar MantarSC Declines Urgent Hearing On Police Action During ‘Chalo Sansad’ Protest‘Mujhe Maaro, Sir’: CJP Protester Seen In Viral Lathi-Charge Video Recounts Standoff With Cops70 Km To 500 Metres: How India’s Two New Ladakh Bridges Could Transform Border Connectivity123PhotostoriesThe forgotten Indian textile Princess Diana secretly loved deserves a fashion revivalChoose the best wallet color for Men according to your birth dateDating green flags that matter more than money and looks: 7 signs that reveal someone is emotionally mature, trustworthy and genuinely ready for a healthy, lasting relationship5 Vishnu Mantras That Can Transform Your Life10 ancient cities that vanished without warning: From Pompeii to Mohenjo-daroBigg Boss Tamil 10: A look back at the reality show’s decade-long journeyBrain health starts young: 5 habits every young adult should adopt for a sharper mind, according to neurologistOne power word can change your mood; based on your birth dateStop throwing away lemon peels and mix them with vinegar in a jar: 5 lesser-known uses of this simple combinationWhy do bananas have those annoying stringy fibres? The surprising reason behind the tiny white threads123Hot PicksMHT CET merit listDelhi metroCJP ProtestNTA NET Answer KeyDU UG admissionsSBI PO Admit cardTrump tariffDharmendra PradhanMumbai rainTop TrendingOba FemiCJP ProtestersCJPCJP ProtestHyderabad RapeSamras Vidya Setu campaignSupreme CourtZlatan ibrahimovicHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19

Centre invites protesters for talks NEW DELHI: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday invited the protesters against NEET paper leak for talks at JP Nadda’s place on the central government’s behalf. This comes after the talk on Monday with the Cockroach Janta Party’s spokespersons failed to bear any results.”I wish to share that in the last 24 hours as many as four offers were made to the student representatives for a dialogue. It is my humble appeal to the students on agitation that the government is ready for talks whenever you want, at whichever hour of the day and for as much length of time that you wish to,” he said. Watch ‘This Is Not Done’: Jitendra Singh Claims Rahul Gandhi ‘Changed His Demands’, Hails PM Modi”We are ready to discuss the issue on which the agitation has happened, and all the other related issues as well. The talks can be held with an open mind at the residence of Union health minister JP Nadda and of course I will be accompanying him. The talks could be held at Nadda’s residence or at the office, or whichever of the two you wish to,” he added.He further urged the protester to participate in the talks adding that the “government will go to any extent to safeguard the welfare of the students.””Please come forward so that we find a way out of this situation in the larger interest of the students’ community, youth community and the nation at large. As you would also appreciate, this morning itself, Prime Minister Narendra Modi candidly spelt out that the interest of the students is the foremost for this government. The government will go to any extent to safeguard the welfare of the students. Not only that, but the PM also took a very important decision to set up fast-track courts to deal with the cases related to those responsible for the recent paper leaks so that the final verdicts come early and decisively. Once again, I very humbly, on behalf of the government, invite you to come forward,” he said.Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he had ordered for setting up of fast-track courts “to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.””Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard. This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students. Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared,” he said in a post on X.Thursday’s protest at Jantar Mantar came after overnight clashes between protesters and police, who fired tear gas and used batons to disperse crowds. It marked the second such confrontation in the national capital this week.Despite barricades and heightened security, protesters gathered again at Jantar Mantar. Authorities also shut Delhi Metro services at 16 stations in central Delhi to curb access to the protest site.On Monday, thousands of demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament in defiance of restrictions before police intervened with tear gas and baton charges to stop them.Demonstrators are seeking the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, sweeping reforms to the examination system, and compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following exam leak incidents.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTehseen Poonawalla Alleges “Gadkari’s Son Got Richer” Over E20 Fuel Policy37,000 Lives Lost On Known Highway Death Traps In 3 Years: Who Is Responsible?PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts For Paper Leak CasesDelhi Police vs CJP: Dipke Denies Role In ACP Attack, Alleges ‘Outsiders’ Behind ViolenceIndia At UN: J&K Is Integral Part Of India, Pakistan Using Terrorism As State Policy, Says EnvoyJ&K Police Launch Massive Crackdown, Detain Over 2,000 Suspected OGWs After Anantnag Terror AttackBiryani, Langar, Medicines: How India Rallied Behind CJP Protesters At Jantar MantarSC Declines Urgent Hearing On Police Action During ‘Chalo Sansad’ Protest‘Mujhe Maaro, Sir’: CJP Protester Seen In Viral Lathi-Charge Video Recounts Standoff With Cops70 Km To 500 Metres: How India’s Two New Ladakh Bridges Could Transform Border Connectivity123PhotostoriesThe forgotten Indian textile Princess Diana secretly loved deserves a fashion revivalChoose the best wallet color for Men according to your birth dateDating green flags that matter more than money and looks: 7 signs that reveal someone is emotionally mature, trustworthy and genuinely ready for a healthy, lasting relationship5 Vishnu Mantras That Can Transform Your Life10 ancient cities that vanished without warning: From Pompeii to Mohenjo-daroBigg Boss Tamil 10: A look back at the reality show’s decade-long journeyBrain health starts young: 5 habits every young adult should adopt for a sharper mind, according to neurologistOne power word can change your mood; based on your birth dateStop throwing away lemon peels and mix them with vinegar in a jar: 5 lesser-known uses of this simple combinationWhy do bananas have those annoying stringy fibres? The surprising reason behind the tiny white threads123Hot PicksMHT CET merit listDelhi metroCJP ProtestNTA NET Answer KeyDU UG admissionsSBI PO Admit cardTrump tariffDharmendra PradhanMumbai rainTop TrendingOba FemiCJP ProtestersCJPCJP ProtestHyderabad RapeSamras Vidya Setu campaignSupreme CourtZlatan ibrahimovicHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19

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Yamuna river (PTI file photo) NEW DELHI: “Nature provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” The words widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi perhaps resonate nowhere more starkly today than along India’s rivers.From Delhi to Mumbai, Chennai to Hyderabad and Bengaluru, India’s urban rivers tell similar stories. They have been straightened, narrowed, encroached upon and increasingly turned into conduits for the waste generated by constantly expanding cities. Rivers that once shaped settlements now survive by carrying sewage.Yet every river has paid a different price.The Yamuna has lost much of its width to floodplain encroachments and water diversion. A recent study found that the river, which flows through the northern and southern stretches of the national capital and is also known as the Kalindi, has shrunk by nearly 68% over the past 220 years.If the Yamuna is struggling, the Sahibi River in national capital has already crossed the brink and is now ecologically degraded, according to Central Water Commission report of Jal Shakti ministry.Once an important seasonal river flowing through western Delhi, the Sahibi has gradually disappeared beneath urban expansion. Today, most residents know it simply as the Najafgarh drain or nala, a heavily polluted water channel carrying black sewage through the city.Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Mithi river has been reduced to a storm-water drain overwhelmed by unchecked urban development. Hyderabad’s Musi and Chennai’s Cooum now carry far more sewage than freshwater, while Bengaluru’s Vrishabhavathi has effectively become the city’s wastewater channel.Even the mighty Brahmaputra in Northeast, relatively cleaner than most urban rivers, is steadily losing land to relentless erosion as climate change and urban pressures continue to mount.Together, they reveal a common truth: India’s cities have grown by steadily reducing the space available for rivers.Delhi: Yamuna that lost its floodplainNo river illustrates this transformation more dramatically than the Yamuna.A recent study by researchers from Delhi University and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, found that the Yamuna’s average width through Delhi has shrunk by nearly 68%, from about 658 metres in 1799 to roughly 210 metres today. Water discharge has fallen by almost 90%, largely because of barrages, canals and diversion projects.The researchers also argue that shrinking floodplains have made Delhi more vulnerable to flooding. Embankments have confined the river to an increasingly narrow channel, helping explain why the capital witnessed record floods in 2023 despite lower river discharge than during the 1978 floods.The Yamuna has long occupied centre stage in Delhi’s political discourse. Every election brings renewed promises to clean the river, with rival parties blaming each other for its deteriorating condition.Yet, despite repeated assurances, the river remains heavily polluted and is often described as being on the brink of becoming biologically dead.Its condition is impossible to ignore. As it winds through Delhi, the Yamuna carries dark, polluted water choked with untreated waste. Downstream, it reaches Agra, where it flows beside one of the world’s greatest monuments — the Taj Mahal. The contrast between the pristine marble monument and the foul-smelling river has become an uncomfortable reminder of India’s environmental challenges. Agra: Garbage lines the polluted banks of the Yamuna near the Taj MahalDuring US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Taj Mahal in 2020, authorities even released additional water into the Yamuna to improve its appearance.Mumbai: When a flood exposed a dying Mithi riverFor Mumbai, it took a disaster.The catastrophic floods of July 26, 2005, which claimed over 500 live, exposed what decades of urban expansion had done to the 17.8-km Mithi River.According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), suburban development over the past 25 years has “drastically degraded” the river’s water quality. Once an important natural storm-water channel, the Mithi now carries untreated sewage, industrial effluents, municipal waste and sludge.Wetlands and floodplains have disappeared under roads, industrial estates and the Bandra-Kurla Complex. Encroachments have narrowed the river, reducing its ability to carry monsoon runoff.Although the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said that widening and retaining-wall works have doubled storage capacity and tripled carrying capacity since 2005, officials admit pollution remains the biggest challenge.The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board identifies untreated sewage, industrial discharge and solid waste as the principal reasons behind the river’s continued degradation.The BMC and MMRDA have undertaken widening, deepening, desilting, construction of retaining walls and pollution-control works along the river.The largest municipal body in country, BMC has said that retaining wall construction is nearly complete, while MMRDA is implementing sewage interception and an odour-control pilot project aimed at improving dissolved oxygen and reducing pollution.The renewed desilting and anti-encroachment initiatives after the alleged desilting scam were also reported.Hyderabad: Musi river flowing mostly on sewageThe Musi tells perhaps the clearest story of a river losing its natural identity.The Telangana government’s Musi Riverfront Development Corporation said the river now runs “nearly dry” through Hyderabad because reservoirs upstream, catchment degradation and urban encroachments have drastically reduced natural flows.What remains is largely sewage.The Union environment ministry classifies stretches of the Musi among India’s “Priority-I polluted river stretches”, while the ministry of Jal Shakti said four sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of 593 MLD have been created under the National River Conservation Plan.Even so, untreated wastewater continues entering the river through multiple nalas or drains as Hyderabad continues to expand its stretches and grow into a full-fledged metropolitan area.The state now proposes a 55-km riverfront restoration project centred on complete sewage interception, ecological restoration and flood management, an acknowledgement that beautification alone cannot revive a river whose biggest problem is pollution.Chennai: Cooum river reduced to urban sewerThe story of the Cooum is equally sobering.Flowing about 65 km, the river once supported transport and recreation before becoming overwhelmed by Chennai’s urban growth.Government data cited in Parliament records Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels of 105 mg/litre in the Cooum — among the highest for India’s urban rivers. Healthy river water typically records BOD below 3 mg/litre.Under the National River Conservation Plan, projects worth Rs 404.25 crore created 264 MLD of sewage treatment capacity through four treatment plants, according to environment ministry. However, the project includes both Cooum and Adyar rivers.Yet Cooum’s untreated sewage continues entering the river through multiple drains.A Comptroller and Auditor General audit mentioned that Tamil Nadu itself described the Cooum as “an urban sewer due to drainage of municipal and industrial waste.”The Chennai River Restoration Trust has cleared encroachments, relocated thousands of families and restored stretches near Island Grounds.But officials continue to acknowledge that stopping sewage inflows remains the key challenge.Bengaluru: Vrishabhavathi river carrying city’s waste downstreamIf Hyderabad’s Musi resembles an open drain, Bengaluru’s Vrishabhavathi has effectively become one.The Central Pollution Control Board describes the river as acting as “a drain for domestic and industrial wastewater.”Flowing into the Byramangala reservoir before joining the Arkavathi, the river carries much of Bengaluru’s treated and untreated sewage downstream.CPCB has repeatedly directed Karnataka authorities to strengthen sewage treatment, improve industrial effluent management and protect floodplains.Heavy rainfall frequently transports garbage and plastic downstream. Residents near Bidadi have complained that truckloads of Bengaluru’s waste accumulate around bridges after every major spell of rain.The river illustrates how pollution generated inside one city increasingly affects communities far beyond municipal boundaries.Assam: A different kind of shrinking Brahmaputra riverThe Brahmaputra also nurtures some of the Northeast’s fastest-growing urban centres. From Dibrugarh to the bustling metropolis of Guwahati, cities have risen and continue to expand along the banks of the mighty river.Unlike India’s urban rivers, the Brahmaputra’s greatest challenge is not just sewage.It is erosion.Every year, villages, farmland and public infrastructure disappear as one of the world’s largest braided rivers shifts course.Recognising the scale of the problem, the Centre and the Asian Development Bank signed a 0-million agreement in 2024 to strengthen flood and erosion management across 650 km of the river in Assam.The Assam government documents described erosion as one of the state’s biggest developmental challenges. Protection works continue around vulnerable areas such as Majuli, while future planning increasingly relies on satellite imagery, GIS mapping and hydrological modelling.Although pollution levels remain far lower than those in India’s metropolitan rivers, officials warned that urbanisation and untreated sewage around cities such as Guwahati are emerging concerns.The Brahmaputra demonstrates that shrinking rivers are not always about pollution. Sometimes, rivers lose land while people lose homes.The Brahmaputra’s relentless erosion and annual floods continue to threaten millions in the Northeast. Fed by heavy monsoon rains, the river frequently swells beyond its banks, leaving large parts of the region inundated.Ganga: A river struggling under weight of India’s citiesIf the Ganga is India’s most revered river, it is also among its most stressed. Flowing through some of the country’s fastest-growing cities, including Haridwar, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata.The Ganga faces a different challenge. Unlike the Yamuna, its biggest burden stems from industrial pollution, compounded by religious offerings, ritual waste, funeral remains and the enormous crowds that gather during events such as the Mahakumbh.For centuries worshipped as “Maa Ganga” and celebrated as a symbol of purity, the river today ranks among the world’s most polluted waterways.The river has increasingly become a victim of urban expansion, pollution and shrinking natural floodplains.As cities have grown, the Ganga’s floodplains have steadily disappeared beneath roads, residential colonies, commercial developments and embankments. These encroachments have narrowed the river’s natural corridor, reducing its ability to spread during the monsoon, recharge groundwater and sustain wetlands.Pollution remains the river’s biggest challenge. Despite significant investments under the Namami Gange programme, untreated sewage from expanding urban centres continues to enter the river through hundreds of drains.Industrial effluents, particularly from leather tanneries, sugar mills, distilleries and textile units, add to the pollution burden, although regulatory enforcement has improved in recent years. During the lean season, reduced environmental flows due to barrages and water diversion further limit the river’s ability to dilute pollutants.Large-scale restoration efforts have expanded sewage treatment capacity, intercepted drains and improved riverfront infrastructure in several cities. Yet government assessments continue to emphasise that engineering projects alone cannot revive the Ganga.More than water, a test of India’s citiesTaken together, these rivers tell a remarkably similar story despite their different geographies.Some have been narrowed by embankments. Others have lost wetlands, floodplains and natural channels to highways, commercial districts and housing colonies. Many now receive more sewage than freshwater.Governments have invested thousands of crores in programmes such as Namami Gange, the Yamuna Action Plan, the National River Conservation Plan and city-specific restoration projects. New sewage treatment plants, riverfronts and desilting drives are important interventions.But almost every official report arrives at the same conclusion: rivers cannot be revived by engineering alone.Unless untreated sewage is intercepted, floodplains are protected, encroachments are prevented, and ecological flows are maintained, India’s rivers will continue to shrink-even if they appear cleaner on the surface.The question is no longer whether India’s cities need rivers. They always will. The real question is whether India’s cities can continue to grow without taking away the very space that allows rivers to remain alive.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTehseen Poonawalla Alleges “Gadkari’s Son Got Richer” Over E20 Fuel Policy37,000 Lives Lost On Known Highway Death Traps In 3 Years: Who Is Responsible?PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts For Paper Leak CasesDelhi Police vs CJP: Dipke Denies Role In ACP Attack, Alleges ‘Outsiders’ Behind ViolenceIndia At UN: J&K Is Integral Part Of India, Pakistan Using Terrorism As State Policy, Says EnvoyJ&K Police Launch Massive Crackdown, Detain Over 2,000 Suspected OGWs After Anantnag Terror AttackBiryani, Langar, Medicines: How India Rallied Behind CJP Protesters At Jantar MantarSC Declines Urgent Hearing On Police Action During ‘Chalo Sansad’ Protest‘Mujhe Maaro, Sir’: CJP Protester Seen In Viral Lathi-Charge Video Recounts Standoff With Cops70 Km To 500 Metres: How India’s Two New Ladakh Bridges Could Transform Border Connectivity123PhotostoriesThe forgotten Indian textile Princess Diana secretly loved deserves a fashion revivalChoose the best wallet color for Men according to your birth dateDating green flags that matter more than money and looks: 7 signs that reveal someone is emotionally mature, trustworthy and genuinely ready for a healthy, lasting relationship5 Vishnu Mantras That Can Transform Your Life10 ancient cities that vanished without warning: From Pompeii to Mohenjo-daroBigg Boss Tamil 10: A look back at the reality show’s decade-long journeyBrain health starts young: 5 habits every young adult should adopt for a sharper mind, according to neurologistOne power word can change your mood; based on your birth dateStop throwing away lemon peels and mix them with vinegar in a jar: 5 lesser-known uses of this simple combinationWhy do bananas have those annoying stringy fibres? 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Yamuna river (PTI file photo) NEW DELHI: “Nature provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” The words widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi perhaps resonate nowhere more starkly today than along India’s rivers.From Delhi to Mumbai, Chennai to Hyderabad and Bengaluru, India’s urban rivers tell similar stories. They have been straightened, narrowed, encroached upon and increasingly turned into conduits for the waste generated by constantly expanding cities. Rivers that once shaped settlements now survive by carrying sewage.Yet every river has paid a different price.The Yamuna has lost much of its width to floodplain encroachments and water diversion. A recent study found that the river, which flows through the northern and southern stretches of the national capital and is also known as the Kalindi, has shrunk by nearly 68% over the past 220 years.If the Yamuna is struggling, the Sahibi River in national capital has already crossed the brink and is now ecologically degraded, according to Central Water Commission report of Jal Shakti ministry.Once an important seasonal river flowing through western Delhi, the Sahibi has gradually disappeared beneath urban expansion. Today, most residents know it simply as the Najafgarh drain or nala, a heavily polluted water channel carrying black sewage through the city.Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Mithi river has been reduced to a storm-water drain overwhelmed by unchecked urban development. Hyderabad’s Musi and Chennai’s Cooum now carry far more sewage than freshwater, while Bengaluru’s Vrishabhavathi has effectively become the city’s wastewater channel.Even the mighty Brahmaputra in Northeast, relatively cleaner than most urban rivers, is steadily losing land to relentless erosion as climate change and urban pressures continue to mount.Together, they reveal a common truth: India’s cities have grown by steadily reducing the space available for rivers.Delhi: Yamuna that lost its floodplainNo river illustrates this transformation more dramatically than the Yamuna.A recent study by researchers from Delhi University and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, found that the Yamuna’s average width through Delhi has shrunk by nearly 68%, from about 658 metres in 1799 to roughly 210 metres today. Water discharge has fallen by almost 90%, largely because of barrages, canals and diversion projects.The researchers also argue that shrinking floodplains have made Delhi more vulnerable to flooding. Embankments have confined the river to an increasingly narrow channel, helping explain why the capital witnessed record floods in 2023 despite lower river discharge than during the 1978 floods.The Yamuna has long occupied centre stage in Delhi’s political discourse. Every election brings renewed promises to clean the river, with rival parties blaming each other for its deteriorating condition.Yet, despite repeated assurances, the river remains heavily polluted and is often described as being on the brink of becoming biologically dead.Its condition is impossible to ignore. As it winds through Delhi, the Yamuna carries dark, polluted water choked with untreated waste. Downstream, it reaches Agra, where it flows beside one of the world’s greatest monuments — the Taj Mahal. The contrast between the pristine marble monument and the foul-smelling river has become an uncomfortable reminder of India’s environmental challenges. Agra: Garbage lines the polluted banks of the Yamuna near the Taj MahalDuring US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Taj Mahal in 2020, authorities even released additional water into the Yamuna to improve its appearance.Mumbai: When a flood exposed a dying Mithi riverFor Mumbai, it took a disaster.The catastrophic floods of July 26, 2005, which claimed over 500 live, exposed what decades of urban expansion had done to the 17.8-km Mithi River.According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), suburban development over the past 25 years has “drastically degraded” the river’s water quality. Once an important natural storm-water channel, the Mithi now carries untreated sewage, industrial effluents, municipal waste and sludge.Wetlands and floodplains have disappeared under roads, industrial estates and the Bandra-Kurla Complex. Encroachments have narrowed the river, reducing its ability to carry monsoon runoff.Although the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said that widening and retaining-wall works have doubled storage capacity and tripled carrying capacity since 2005, officials admit pollution remains the biggest challenge.The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board identifies untreated sewage, industrial discharge and solid waste as the principal reasons behind the river’s continued degradation.The BMC and MMRDA have undertaken widening, deepening, desilting, construction of retaining walls and pollution-control works along the river.The largest municipal body in country, BMC has said that retaining wall construction is nearly complete, while MMRDA is implementing sewage interception and an odour-control pilot project aimed at improving dissolved oxygen and reducing pollution.The renewed desilting and anti-encroachment initiatives after the alleged desilting scam were also reported.Hyderabad: Musi river flowing mostly on sewageThe Musi tells perhaps the clearest story of a river losing its natural identity.The Telangana government’s Musi Riverfront Development Corporation said the river now runs “nearly dry” through Hyderabad because reservoirs upstream, catchment degradation and urban encroachments have drastically reduced natural flows.What remains is largely sewage.The Union environment ministry classifies stretches of the Musi among India’s “Priority-I polluted river stretches”, while the ministry of Jal Shakti said four sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of 593 MLD have been created under the National River Conservation Plan.Even so, untreated wastewater continues entering the river through multiple nalas or drains as Hyderabad continues to expand its stretches and grow into a full-fledged metropolitan area.The state now proposes a 55-km riverfront restoration project centred on complete sewage interception, ecological restoration and flood management, an acknowledgement that beautification alone cannot revive a river whose biggest problem is pollution.Chennai: Cooum river reduced to urban sewerThe story of the Cooum is equally sobering.Flowing about 65 km, the river once supported transport and recreation before becoming overwhelmed by Chennai’s urban growth.Government data cited in Parliament records Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels of 105 mg/litre in the Cooum — among the highest for India’s urban rivers. Healthy river water typically records BOD below 3 mg/litre.Under the National River Conservation Plan, projects worth Rs 404.25 crore created 264 MLD of sewage treatment capacity through four treatment plants, according to environment ministry. However, the project includes both Cooum and Adyar rivers.Yet Cooum’s untreated sewage continues entering the river through multiple drains.A Comptroller and Auditor General audit mentioned that Tamil Nadu itself described the Cooum as “an urban sewer due to drainage of municipal and industrial waste.”The Chennai River Restoration Trust has cleared encroachments, relocated thousands of families and restored stretches near Island Grounds.But officials continue to acknowledge that stopping sewage inflows remains the key challenge.Bengaluru: Vrishabhavathi river carrying city’s waste downstreamIf Hyderabad’s Musi resembles an open drain, Bengaluru’s Vrishabhavathi has effectively become one.The Central Pollution Control Board describes the river as acting as “a drain for domestic and industrial wastewater.”Flowing into the Byramangala reservoir before joining the Arkavathi, the river carries much of Bengaluru’s treated and untreated sewage downstream.CPCB has repeatedly directed Karnataka authorities to strengthen sewage treatment, improve industrial effluent management and protect floodplains.Heavy rainfall frequently transports garbage and plastic downstream. Residents near Bidadi have complained that truckloads of Bengaluru’s waste accumulate around bridges after every major spell of rain.The river illustrates how pollution generated inside one city increasingly affects communities far beyond municipal boundaries.Assam: A different kind of shrinking Brahmaputra riverThe Brahmaputra also nurtures some of the Northeast’s fastest-growing urban centres. From Dibrugarh to the bustling metropolis of Guwahati, cities have risen and continue to expand along the banks of the mighty river.Unlike India’s urban rivers, the Brahmaputra’s greatest challenge is not just sewage.It is erosion.Every year, villages, farmland and public infrastructure disappear as one of the world’s largest braided rivers shifts course.Recognising the scale of the problem, the Centre and the Asian Development Bank signed a $200-million agreement in 2024 to strengthen flood and erosion management across 650 km of the river in Assam.The Assam government documents described erosion as one of the state’s biggest developmental challenges. Protection works continue around vulnerable areas such as Majuli, while future planning increasingly relies on satellite imagery, GIS mapping and hydrological modelling.Although pollution levels remain far lower than those in India’s metropolitan rivers, officials warned that urbanisation and untreated sewage around cities such as Guwahati are emerging concerns.The Brahmaputra demonstrates that shrinking rivers are not always about pollution. Sometimes, rivers lose land while people lose homes.The Brahmaputra’s relentless erosion and annual floods continue to threaten millions in the Northeast. Fed by heavy monsoon rains, the river frequently swells beyond its banks, leaving large parts of the region inundated.Ganga: A river struggling under weight of India’s citiesIf the Ganga is India’s most revered river, it is also among its most stressed. Flowing through some of the country’s fastest-growing cities, including Haridwar, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata.The Ganga faces a different challenge. Unlike the Yamuna, its biggest burden stems from industrial pollution, compounded by religious offerings, ritual waste, funeral remains and the enormous crowds that gather during events such as the Mahakumbh.For centuries worshipped as “Maa Ganga” and celebrated as a symbol of purity, the river today ranks among the world’s most polluted waterways.The river has increasingly become a victim of urban expansion, pollution and shrinking natural floodplains.As cities have grown, the Ganga’s floodplains have steadily disappeared beneath roads, residential colonies, commercial developments and embankments. These encroachments have narrowed the river’s natural corridor, reducing its ability to spread during the monsoon, recharge groundwater and sustain wetlands.Pollution remains the river’s biggest challenge. Despite significant investments under the Namami Gange programme, untreated sewage from expanding urban centres continues to enter the river through hundreds of drains.Industrial effluents, particularly from leather tanneries, sugar mills, distilleries and textile units, add to the pollution burden, although regulatory enforcement has improved in recent years. During the lean season, reduced environmental flows due to barrages and water diversion further limit the river’s ability to dilute pollutants.Large-scale restoration efforts have expanded sewage treatment capacity, intercepted drains and improved riverfront infrastructure in several cities. Yet government assessments continue to emphasise that engineering projects alone cannot revive the Ganga.More than water, a test of India’s citiesTaken together, these rivers tell a remarkably similar story despite their different geographies.Some have been narrowed by embankments. Others have lost wetlands, floodplains and natural channels to highways, commercial districts and housing colonies. Many now receive more sewage than freshwater.Governments have invested thousands of crores in programmes such as Namami Gange, the Yamuna Action Plan, the National River Conservation Plan and city-specific restoration projects. New sewage treatment plants, riverfronts and desilting drives are important interventions.But almost every official report arrives at the same conclusion: rivers cannot be revived by engineering alone.Unless untreated sewage is intercepted, floodplains are protected, encroachments are prevented, and ecological flows are maintained, India’s rivers will continue to shrink-even if they appear cleaner on the surface.The question is no longer whether India’s cities need rivers. They always will. The real question is whether India’s cities can continue to grow without taking away the very space that allows rivers to remain alive.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTehseen Poonawalla Alleges “Gadkari’s Son Got Richer” Over E20 Fuel Policy37,000 Lives Lost On Known Highway Death Traps In 3 Years: Who Is Responsible?PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts For Paper Leak CasesDelhi Police vs CJP: Dipke Denies Role In ACP Attack, Alleges ‘Outsiders’ Behind ViolenceIndia At UN: J&K Is Integral Part Of India, Pakistan Using Terrorism As State Policy, Says EnvoyJ&K Police Launch Massive Crackdown, Detain Over 2,000 Suspected OGWs After Anantnag Terror AttackBiryani, Langar, Medicines: How India Rallied Behind CJP Protesters At Jantar MantarSC Declines Urgent Hearing On Police Action During ‘Chalo Sansad’ Protest‘Mujhe Maaro, Sir’: CJP Protester Seen In Viral Lathi-Charge Video Recounts Standoff With Cops70 Km To 500 Metres: How India’s Two New Ladakh Bridges Could Transform Border Connectivity123PhotostoriesThe forgotten Indian textile Princess Diana secretly loved deserves a fashion revivalChoose the best wallet color for Men according to your birth dateDating green flags that matter more than money and looks: 7 signs that reveal someone is emotionally mature, trustworthy and genuinely ready for a healthy, lasting relationship5 Vishnu Mantras That Can Transform Your Life10 ancient cities that vanished without warning: From Pompeii to Mohenjo-daroBigg Boss Tamil 10: A look back at the reality show’s decade-long journeyBrain health starts young: 5 habits every young adult should adopt for a sharper mind, according to neurologistOne power word can change your mood; based on your birth dateStop throwing away lemon peels and mix them with vinegar in a jar: 5 lesser-known uses of this simple combinationWhy do bananas have those annoying stringy fibres? 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