New Delhi:
Trash skimmers, weed harvesters and dredging utility units were in action when the Yamuna cleaning work, which dominated the headlines in the run-up to Delhi polls, started on Sunday.
The action follows a meeting between the Lieutenant Gouverneur VK Saxena in Delhi and the main 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-teeth strategy” to tackle the issue of pollution in the Yamuna.
“To begin with, the waste, waste and sludge in the Yamuna River current will be removed. At the same time cleansing operations in the Najafgarh drain, additional drain and all other large drains will start,” read the statement.
For the other two methods, the explanation added: “3. At the same time, a daily watch on the existing STPs (sewerage treatment installations) will be maintained and a time -bound plan will be maintained in terms of the construction of new STPS/DSTPs, etc., etc. The actual shortage of the treatment of approximately 400 mg will be introduced and operationalized.
The LG office has set a three -year timeline to clean the river and to emphasize the need for 'seamless coordination' between different agencies and departments.
“The implementation of this ambitious plan that focuses on cleaning the river in about 3 years, requires seamless coordination between different agencies and departments including DJB (Delhi Jal Board), I&FC (irrigation and flood control department), MCD (Municipal Company (Municipal Company van Delhi), Environmental department, PWD (Public Works department) and DDA (Delhi Development Authority), “read the statement.
There will be weekly monitoring of the cleaning progress and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been instructed to ensure that industrial units in the city do not discharge dirty water in the drains. This step is taken as part of the efforts to rejuvenate the Yamuna River, to improve the quality of its water and to control pollution.
“Monitoring of the aforementioned works will be carried out weekly at the highest level. In addition, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been dedicated to keep a strict vigilant about the dismissal of untreated effluent in the drainage by industrial units in the city, “Added the statement.
Cleaning the Yamuna, which has repeatedly seen toxic foam from certain areas, has been a promise of the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) before they won the Delhi elections.
In the run -up to the polls, Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the government of Haryana combined the “Gif in the Yamuna” River.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said in his poll speech prior to the elections of the meeting that the BJP will make 'Yamuna Ji the identity of Delhi'.
“During the election campaign I promised that we will make Yamuna Ji the identity of Delhi. I will know then blessings of Yamuna Ji will stay with us:” The Prime Minister insured after the BJP has won the polls. The victory comes after a waiting period of 27 years.
On February 13, the Minister of Union Harsh Malhotra claimed that the party would start to clean the Yamuna and end up within the given time frame.
“We have to implement the Ayushman Bharat schedule in Delhi. We will start working on the Yamuna and completing the task within the given time frame. Our priority is to bring the garbage dogs to Ground Zero,” Mr. Malhotra told news agency Ani.
The recovery of the Yamuna started in January 2023 in mission mode when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was a high level commission under the chairmanship of LG Saxena. The aim of the committee is to control the pollution of the river and to take concrete steps for its cleaning. The committee has ordered that industrial units in Delhi are not allowed to discharge dirt or polluted water in the drains.
After five meetings of the high-level committee that supervise the cleaning efforts, the then AAM AADMI party (AAP) approached the Supreme Court, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal and challenged the NGT command that the LG appoints the head of a high-ranking committee On Yamuna river pollution.
The then supreme judge of India, Dy Chandrachud, remained the order of the NGT. Consequently, the Yamuna restoration work was stopped.
Earlier this year, pollution levels reached record highs.
