With an aim to rid the Yamuna of pollutants and to end the discharge of effluents into it, the Delhi Government has embarked on an ambitious project to rejuvenate the river that runs through the Capital city.
The "Rejuvenation of River Yamuna" project is being implemented by the Delhi Government with assistance from the Centre and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The government has also sought assistance from the Netherlands in areas of its expertise like in river engineering and modelling, water resources management and pollution control to clean the Yamuna.
Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung chaired a meeting of the governing body of the Unified Centre for Rejuvenation of River Yamuna on Monday and said the plan to rejuvenate the river is being coordinated by the Delhi Jal Board through its interceptor sewage project. The riverfront development has been entrusted to DDA which will set up biodiversity parks and recreational spaces.
“While DJB's interceptor sewage project shall be able to check 70 per cent of the sewage flow into the river, the sewage from other drains also needs to be intercepted to check pollutants from entering the Yamuna,” he said.
Asking all departments and agencies concerned to work on the project, Mr. Jung instructed Environment Secretary Sanjeev Kumar to take steps through the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to ensure that pollutants, especially from industries, are not allowed to flow into the Yamuna.
Mr. Jung underlined the need to increase the quantum of water in Yamuna and officials informed that dredging of lakes such as Bhalswa and Sanjay Lake could help create capacity to store water during the monsoons. Mr. Jung directed the officials to start work on it immediately.
The 'Unified Centre for Rejuvenation of River Yamuna' aims to ensure conservation, protection and rejuvenation of the river and to promote and secure the requisite development activities along it and its floodplains within Delhi.
Officials said experts from the Netherlands will help in developing a marketing plan to promote inland waterway transport, cleaning the river and suggest measures for creating mega reservoirs. They will also provide technical assistance in ensuring zero discharge and treating sewage besides developing an environment-friendly and "socially conscious" river-front.
The first phase of the project involves data collection and compilation, its analysis, identification of gaps and conducting requisite investigations and surveys, if required. “It also involves carrying out river engineering studies and water flow assessment management and suggesting measures for creation of water storage, navigation etc. A timeline of six months has been fixed for the first phase,” said a statement.
