BJP MP Manoj Tiwari takes dip in Yamuna, claims water is cleaner

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has taken a bath in the Yamuna river at Sonia Vihar Ghat and claimed that pollution levels have dropped by nearly half over the past year and a half. During his visit, the North-East Delhi MP also performed achaman with the river water and shared photos and videos on social media to dismiss critics who call the cleanup a staged show. Tiwari attributed the progress to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, adding that migratory birds and crocodiles are proof of a healthier river ecosystem.

AAP Challenge and Data

AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj rejected these claims, stating that the river is naturally cleaner only in the 26-kilometer stretch from Palla to Wazirabad before raw sewage from drains like Najafgarh pollutes it further downstream. Bharadwaj challenged Tiwari and Water Minister Parvesh Verma to drink the water at Kalindi Kunj Ghat to prove safety. Data analysis by NDTV from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee shows biochemical oxygen demand, or BOD, levels exceed safe limits of three milligrams per liter in several areas, reaching 30 milligrams near ISBT and 18 milligrams at ITO.

Context

While official data shows some reduction in BOD levels at ITO compared to previous years, pollution remains well above safe bathing standards across much of the capital. Central authorities have launched multiple projects worth 8,941 crore rupees to clean the river by May 2029, though officials estimate it will take a few more years to complete the remaining work.