The long-awaited cleanup of the Yamuna River, a major campaign issue in the Delhi elections, officially began on Sunday with the deployment of trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility units.
The initiative follows a meeting between Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and the Chief Secretary, where urgent instructions were issued to address the river’s severe pollution.
A Multi-Faceted Approach to Cleaning the Yamuna
The Lieutenant Governor’s office outlined a “four-pronged strategy” to tackle pollution in the river. “To begin with, the trash, garbage, and silt in the Yamuna River stream will be removed. Simultaneously, cleaning operations in the Najafgarh Drain, Supplementary Drain, and all other major drains will start,” the statement read.
The second phase will focus on monitoring sewage treatment plants (STPs) to ensure they function at full capacity while implementing a time-bound plan to construct new STPs to treat nearly 400 MGD of sewage.
The ambitious cleanup plan is expected to take three years, requiring seamless coordination between multiple agencies, including the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Environment Department, Public Works Department (PWD), and Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
To ensure accountability, weekly monitoring will be conducted, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been directed to prevent industrial units from discharging untreated wastewater into the drains.
Political Battle Over Yamuna Pollution
Cleaning the Yamuna was a key election promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before their historic victory in the Delhi Assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured voters that “we will make Yamuna ji the identity of Delhi.”
Meanwhile, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had accused the Haryana government of polluting the river, alleging they were “mixing poison in the Yamuna.” Union Minister Harsh Malhotra reiterated the BJP’s commitment, saying, “We will begin working on the Yamuna and finish the task within the given timeframe.”
Legal and Administrative Hurdles
The restoration of the Yamuna began in January 2023 when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) formed a high-level committee led by L-G Saxena to oversee the river’s cleanup. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government challenged the NGT’s decision in the Supreme Court, leading to a stay on the order.
This legal battle halted restoration efforts, contributing to record-high pollution levels in early 2024. With the BJP now in power, the cleaning process has resumed, marking a new chapter in Delhi’s fight against river pollution.
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