New Delhi: Trash skimmers, weed harvesters and dredge utility units were in action as the Yamuna cleaning work, which dominated the headlines in the run-up to Delhi polls, began on Sunday.
The action follows a meeting between Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and the Chief Secretary of the national capital, where an immediate directive was issued to clean the Yamuna river.
According to a statement from the Lieutenant Governor’s office, there is a “four-pronged strategy” to tackle the issue of pollution in the Yamuna.
“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,” read the statement.
For the other two methods, the statement added, “3. At the same time, a daily watch on the existing STPs (sewage treatment plants) in terms of their capacity and output will be maintained, and a time-bound plan in terms of construction of new STPs/DSTPs, etc., to meet the actual shortfall of treating about 400 MGD of sewer will be put in place and operationalised.”
The L-G’s office has set a three-year timeline to clean the river, emphasising the need for ‘seamless coordination’ between various agencies and departments.
“The execution of this ambitious plan that targets cleaning the river in about 3 years will require seamless coordination between various agencies and departments that include DJB (Delhi Jal Board), I&FC (Irrigation and Flood Control Department), MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), Environment Department, PWD (Public Works Department) and DDA (Delhi Development Authority),” the statement read.
There will be weekly monitoring of the cleaning progress, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been instructed to has been directed to ensure that industrial units in the city do not discharge dirty water into the drains. This step is being taken as part of the efforts to rejuvenate the Yamuna river, improve the quality of its water, and control pollution.
