The first case asking the Supreme Court to intervene in making the Yamuna in Delhi a cleaner river was filed by environmental activist M C Mehta in 1985. Subsequently:

1992: Sureshwar D Sinha, chairperson of a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation called Paani Morcha, filed a writ petition pleading for enforcement of measures to stop the high rate of pollution from Delhi. Arguing the Union government had no right to approve plans that rendered the Yamuna dry for 9 months in a year, the petition also demanded the Court permit fair levels of water flow in the Yamuna.

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