Yamuna Cleaning Begins After BJP's Delhi Election Win; LG Saxena Announces Three-Year Plan With Four-Pronged Strategy

The efforts to clean Yamuna River commenced on Sunday (16 February) with equipment such as trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility units put to use, NDTV reported.

Following a discussion between VK Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and the Chief Secretary of the national capital, an urgent order was given to cleanse the Yamuna River.

The office of the Lieutenant Governor has announced a "four-pronged strategy" aimed at addressing the pollution problem in the Yamuna, as per a recent statement, which comes after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had pledged to clean Yamuna in its poll promise.

"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 said.

Along with this, 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 office of the Lieutenant Governor has established a three-year plan for river cleanup, stressing the importance of 'uninterrupted coordination' among different agencies and departments.

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) will be required.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been tasked with conducting weekly assessments of the cleaning progress and ensuring that city-based industrial units refrain from discharging contaminated water into the drains. This measure is a part of the broader initiative aimed at revitalizing the Yamuna River, enhancing its water quality, and curbing pollution.

The oversight of the aforementioned tasks will be conducted at the utmost level every week. Furthermore, the DPCC has been instructed to rigorously monitor the release of untreated waste into the city's drains by industrial establishments, according to the statement.