1,300 Metric Tonnes Of Waste Cleared From Yamuna In 10 Days As Delhi Ramps Up Cleanup Efforts, Says Minister Parvesh Verma

Delhi’s Irrigation and Flood Control Minister, Parvesh Verma, conducted a boat inspection of the Yamuna on Wednesday (5 March), highlighting ongoing efforts to clean and restore the river and said that over the past 10 days, authorities have removed 1,300 metric tonnes of waste, as reported by The Economic Times.

The initiative aligns with a key campaign promise made by the BJP in the recent Delhi Assembly elections, focusing on restoring the Yamuna.

Verma emphasised that riverbed restoration is also underway, with encroachments being cleared to facilitate long-term improvements.

“In 2023, Delhi faced a flood. Previously, all the floodgates were closed, but now they have been repaired and raised to prevent future flooding,” Verma stated, and quoted as saying by The Economic Times.

Sewage Treatment Plants to Address Drainage Issues

A crucial component of the cleanup strategy involves installing sewage treatment plants (STPs) for 18 major drains that discharge industrial and domestic waste into the river.

The minister assured that the new STPs will be built and existing ones will be upgraded. Further, the installation process is expected to be completed within two years and complaints regarding sewage discharge will be addressed systematically.

Government’s Renewed Focus on the Yamuna

Verma criticised previous administrations for neglecting the Yamuna’s condition, claiming that no concrete action was taken in the past decade—not even at a planning level.

"It never even occurred to the previous government to work for the Yamuna. But now, not only the Delhi government but the PMO itself is involved," he asserted.