In case you've ever wondered why the Yamuna resembles a drain most of the time, its because for nine months in a year the river - in its journey through Delhi - receives only drain water and there is no fresh water supply. Or at least this is what the Supreme Court-appointed committee had to say to a bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justices C K Thakker and L S Panta

The committee has informed the Supreme Court in its interim report that Delhi withdraws clean water from the Yamuna at Wazirabad for its use and returns only waste. In other words, the river in Delhi had no fresh water flow for nine months in a year and hence had lost its assimilative capacity. The only time the river received fresh water was during the monsoons.

This has been identified as one of the major causes for the rivers' extent of pollution which is still at the same level as it was 10 years ago when the court, terming it the lifeline of Delhi, had suo motu taken on itself the task of cleaning up the river. The report also states that drainage, in large parts of the city, was often choked and is in urgent need of refurbishment and repair. This was leading to the problem of direct discharge of drain water into the river.

The setting up of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) too has not served its purpose as treated effluent from these STPs is discharged into open drains that again lead to the river.

Delhi Jal Board, the body in charge of the city's sewerage system, has informed the committee that it is exploring innovative solutions for sewerage management. While supporting this stand, the committee has asked the DJB to provide details of the solutions and the time frame for their implementation.

When the Bench adjourned hearing on the matter till December 5, advocate D N Rao, the convenor of the committee, stated that the committee would examine further options to speed up work under the Yamuna Action Plan to clean the river and would submit another report before the next date of hearing.