Uttar Pradesh officials have devised a novel method to clean up the highly-polluted Yamuna river: excavate 10 ponds to store waste water that was hitheto flowing into the river from 19 drains, treat this and then use it to create clusters of greenery along the river.

"This project envisages a series of 10 ponds along the river to store drain water for treatment. The plan will not only recharge underground reserves but help our greening efforts in a big way, plus of course prevent polluted water from flowing into the river directly," District Forest Officer N.K. Janoo said.