Yamuna River

News: The NGT issued notices over alleged pollution in Yamuna at Mathura–Vrindavan, where water quality reportedly fell to “very poor” Category D level.

About Yamuna River

• Naming: The name Yamuna is derived from the Sanskrit word “yama” meaning ‘twin’.
• Origin: The Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier near Bandarpunch peaks in Uttarakhand.
• It is the second-largest tributary of the Ganga, and it is an integral part of the Ganga Drainage System, which is one of the three major river basins in the Himalayan region.
• Length: The Yamuna travels a total length of 1,376 km.
• States Covered: The river flows through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Confluence: The Yamuna merges with the Ganga at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, which is an important site of the Kumbh Mela held every 12 years.
• Tributaries: It is joined by the Tons, Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and the Ken on its right bank while the Hindan, the Rind, the Sengar, the Varuna, etc. join it on its left bank.
• Boundaries: The river flows along the boundary of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, showing its role in regional demarcation.
• Major Cities on Bank: The major cities located on the banks of the Yamuna River are Yamunotri, Paonta Sahib, Delhi, Noida, Mathura, Agra, Firozabad, Etawah, Kalpi, Hamirpur, and Prayagraj (Allahabad).
• Major Project: Major irrigation projects on the Yamuna River include the Western Yamuna Canal (Haryana), Eastern Yamuna Canal (UP), and the Agra Canal.
  • Key infrastructure includes the Hathnikund Barrage, with major storage projects like the Renukaji Dam, Lakhwar Multipurpose Project, and Kishau Dam under development to enhance irrigation and water supply.