New Delhi, India – Days before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form the Delhi government, a large-scale effort to clean the heavily polluted Yamuna River has commenced.
The initiative, guided by a four-pronged strategy, aims to restore the river within three years, fulfilling a key election promise.
A Key Election Promise
Cleaning the Yamuna was a major pledge in the BJP’s election manifesto.
The party assured voters that its government in Delhi would collaborate with the central government to develop a modern riverfront and establish a Yamuna Kosh, a dedicated fund for the river’s restoration.
During the BJP’s victory celebrations on February 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his commitment to making the Yamuna pollution-free.
Four-Pronged Strategy to Clean Up Yamuna
Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena, in a meeting with senior officials, directed immediate action on the cleanup plan. The strategy involves:
Debris and silt removal: Clearing trash and accumulated sludge from the Yamuna and major drains, including the Najafgarh and Supplementary drains.
Sewage treatment: Monitoring and enhancing the performance of existing sewage treatment plants (STPs) while expediting the construction of new STPs to treat an additional 400 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage.
Inter-departmental coordination: Ensuring seamless collaboration among agencies such as the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Irrigation & Flood Control Department (I&FC), Environment Department, Public Works Department (PWD), and Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Regulatory oversight: Strengthening enforcement by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to prevent industries from discharging untreated effluents into city drains.
Strict monitoring will be conducted at the highest levels on a weekly basis to ensure smooth execution of the plan.
Previous River Yamuna Cleanup Efforts
The AAP government, upon assuming office in 2015, pledged to rejuvenate the River Yamuna within five years. Despite this commitment, the river remains heavily polluted a decade later.
Between 2015 and 2021, approximately Rs 6,856.91 crore was reportedly spent on Yamuna cleaning initiatives. Despite this no tangible improvement in the river was reported.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued directives in 2015 for the establishment of 32 additional sewage treatment plants (STPs).
However, by 2019, none had been completed, with officials citing land acquisition issues and impractical deadlines.
This lack of infrastructure has perpetuated the discharge of untreated sewage into the river.
A Roadmap for Rejuvenating the Yamuna by 2030
The BJP has committed to prioritizing the river’s rejuvenation, offering a comprehensive plan to reduce pollution, improve sewage management, and promote sustainable waste disposal practices.
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