Centre and Delhi government come together to clean Yamuna

Union water resources minister Uma Bharti with Delhi water minister Kapil Mishra at the inauguration of a “trash skimmer” to clean the Yamuna at Chhat Ghat, near ITO, on Saturday. (Photo:G.N. JHA)

Often at loggerheads, the BJP-led NDA government and the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation on Saturday came together to launch a fresh “wholesome” action plan worth around Rs 825 crore to rid Yamuna of its filth within two-and-half years.

Under the third Yamuna Action Plan (YAP), flagged off by Union water resources minister Uma Bharti in the presence of Delhi water minister Kapil Mishra here, the two governments will carry out works such as construction of STPs along drains between Wazirabad and Okhla to treat waste water, clean the river’s surface with trash-skimmers, create river fronts and repair the Chhat Ghat near ITO. “Under this plan, we will build STPs to curb pollution, create a new river front and repair Chhat Ghat spending Rs 2.5 crore. We have also deployed trash-skimmer worth Rs 4.5 crore for cleaning Yamuna consistently. If need be, we will deploy more such skimmers. Thus, we are treating solid waste, sewage waste and if we get any proposal from state, we will treat chemical waste too,” Ms Bharti said. Thanking the Central government for its initiative, Mr Mishra said that the launch of the work is “historic” and said the authorities will ensure “not a single” drop of filthy water flows into the river.

“I thank Uma didi, her ministry and the government. We are working like a team. And as a result, we have launched work on this comprehensive package of treating waste water. This is an historic beginning,” he said. Mr Mishra said the Kejriwal-led government is working on a “comprehensive” action plan which will be submitted to the Centre within 30-45 days and executed after consulting Delhi residents. He also stated that students of US-based Virginia University will chalk out a plan to clean the river. “We will execute the project in a time-bound manner, we intend to clean the river and will ensure that not a single drop of dirty water flows into the river. And the way things are moving, we can see that happening,” he added.