India, July 15 -- Delhi's 22 main drains contribute 76% more wastewater than previously estimated to the Yamuna as it flows through the city, according to an assessment by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) -- a number that indicates the magnitude of challenge involved in cleaning the river.

The estimate of wastewater flow in the 22 drains that enter Yamuna along the stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla has been revised from 750.4 million gallons per day (mgd) in May 2025 to 1324.4 mgd in May 2026, Delhi government reports show. Larger drain systems such as Najafgarh, Shahdara, and Barapullah saw the highest jump ranging from two to 4.7 times the previous estimates, forcing city administrators to reassess the baseline for rejuvenation of the river...