‘Changed circumstances’ in Delhi power corridors may see better implementation of Yamuna clean-up plan: SC

Supreme Court indicates smoother implementation of plans to clean Yamuna river after BJP's win in Delhi elections.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 25, 2025) indicated that “changed circumstances” in the corridors of power following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s win in the Delhi elections may see the smoother implementation of plans like cleaning the Yamuna river.

“Now, with changed circumstances, there will be a better implementation of plans,” Justice B.R. Gavai, heading a Bench comprising Justice A.G. Masih, remarked.

The new Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, has reiterated the BJP’s assurance that cleaning the Yamuna was among the top five priorities of the first 100 days of the new government in the national capital.

The Bench was hearing a suo motu case ‘In Re: Remediation of Pollution in Rivers’, which primarily focussed on the unabated flow of effluents into the Yamuna, making its water toxic.

Amicus curiae, senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, recommended the apex court to return the case to the National Green Tribunal, which had been monitoring the pollution in Yamuna through the River Yamuna Monitoring Committee led by former Delhi Chief Secretary Shailaja Chandra.

The Tribunal had disbanded the committee when the apex court took suo motu cognisance of the issue in 2021. However, the case has lain stagnant in the top court for the past four years.

The Bench directed Additional Solicitor General Aidhwarya Bhati, appearing for both the Centre and the Delhi government, to take instructions from the Environment Ministry on any measures to clean the river. Ms. Bhati was also asked to find out if a similar case was pending before any other Bench of the apex court, in which case they could be clubbed together for hearing on the next date.