The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP urges L-G to protect Yamuna

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Saturday, Sep 08, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

BJP urges L-G to protect Yamuna

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: With the Yamuna still flowing dirty well after about Rs.1,800 crore has been spent in the name of cleaning it, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan has in a letter to Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna demanded a probe into the siphoning off of funds. He has also urged Mr. Khanna to check construction on the river banks that threatens to permanently change the ecology of its surroundings.

Concrete policy

Stating that even the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General had confirmed corruption in the schemes for cleaning of the Yamuna, Dr. Vardhan said the Delhi Government should be compelled to frame a concrete and effective environment policy for the protection of Delhi’s environment. Moreover, implementation of the schemes should be monitored so that they are not sacrificed at the altar of corruption, he said.

Concerned at the way construction activity was being allowed on the river banks, Dr. Vardhan said the Delhi Government wanted to organise the Commonwealth Games at the cost of the Yamuna and the environment of Delhi.

“For this purpose schemes have been framed to construct the Games Village, Delhi Metro depots, shopping malls and helipads on the banks of Yamuna. The Government has disregarded the directions of the Supreme Court and the concerns of renowned environmentalists in preparing these schemes. Many environmentalists and protectors of environment have demanded stopping the implementation of these schemes, but the Delhi Government is firm on its stand,” he said.

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