Delhi has a total of 1,045 waterbodies at present, according to a report filed by the Wetland Authority of Delhi on April 7, 2025, in compliance with a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order from December 11, 2024.
This number has been confirmed through coordination with 16 land-owning agencies responsible for areas where the waterbodies are located.
A new waterbody within the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, managed by the Sports Authority of India, has been added to the Wetland Authority of Delhi's list. This addition will bring the total number of waterbodies under the Wetland Authority of Delhi to 1,046, the report added.
The issue pertained to the increase in urban flooding in Delhi and its link to the disappearance of waterbodies. Following a ground verification of waterbodies by the Revenue Department, the Wetland Authority has instructed the rejuvenation of 631 waterbodies out of the 1,045 listed, to be carried out by the land-owning agencies in the first phase.
So far, the rejuvenation of 256 out of these 631 waterbodies has been completed. Additionally, 322 more sites identified by Geospatial Delhi Limited were verified by the Revenue Department, which found only 43 of these sites to be visible on the ground.
The Wetland Authority of Delhi has asked the Revenue Department to map these 43 new waterbodies and record them in the revenue records, and for the land-owning agencies to create a plan for their restoration and rejuvenation.
On April 3, 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to submit an affidavit detailing the capacity of the Vasant Kunj sewage treatment plant (STP), the current sewer load on the STP and whether it meets existing standards.
Additionally, DJB must provide the water sample analysis report for the discharge from the STP, along with its capacity, capacity utilisation and the sewer load it is handling. This order pertains to the maintenance of the Macchali talab (waterbody) in Smriti Van at Vasant Kunj.
An affidavit by the DJB dated March 5, 2025, revealed that the STP was established without the required consent to establish (CTE) and is operating without consent to operate (CTO). DJB's counsel stated that the CTE was obtained on April 2, 2025, indicating that the STP still lacks a CTO.
The tribunal directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to take appropriate steps to impose environmental compensation for non-compliance with norms.
DJB's counsel also mentioned a proposed sewer line to divert surplus sewage from the existing drain to another drain connected to the Vasant Kunj STP. However, it remains undisclosed whether the Vasant Kunj STP can handle the additional load, the court noted.
The discharge of sewage and wastewater from Karnataka into the Thenpennai river leads to frothing, especially during monsoon or heavy rainfall due to high levels of coliform and biological oxygen demand in the untreated sewage, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) highlighted in a report on April 5, 2025 to NGT.
The tribunal took suo motu cognisance of the news article in the NDTV.com titled Sea of toxic foam in Tamil Nadu's Hosur after dam discharges surplus water dated December 5, 2024.
On February 19, 2025, district environmental engineer of Hosur recommended that TNPCB request the Central Pollution Control Board to issue necessary directions to stakeholders to reduce sewage discharge from Bangalore through the Bellandur and Varthur lake system in Karnataka to improve the water quality of the Thenpennai river.
The river, originating in Karnataka, enters Tamil Nadu through the northern side of Bangalore. The issue also involves large-scale foam in the Thenpennai river due to untreated chemical effluents from Kelavarapalli reservoir and residential sewage, which affects water quality.