The long-awaited clean-up of the Yamuna River began on Sunday in Delhi, following a BJP win in the state assembly elections and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pre-election promise to make the river “the identity of Delhi.”
Action Plan and Clean-Up Strategy
The Yamuna clean-up commenced with trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility units in action to remove trash, silt, and garbage from the river. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and the Chief Secretary of Delhi issued a four-pronged strategy to address river pollution:
Cleaning Operations: Immediate cleaning of the Najafgarh Drain, Supplementary Drain, and all major drains feeding into the Yamuna.
Sewage Treatment: Daily monitoring of sewage treatment plants (STPs) to assess their capacity and ensure operational efficiency. Plans to build new STPs to treat an additional 400 MGD of sewage.
Agency Coordination: Seamless coordination between various agencies—DJB, MCD, I&FC, Environment Department, PWD, and DDA—to ensure timely execution of the clean-up plan.
Industrial Effluent Control: Strict monitoring of industrial units to prevent untreated wastewater discharge into the drains.
Weekly progress reports will be submitted, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will ensure compliance with discharge regulations.
Political Context and BJP’s Commitment
The clean-up follows a promise by PM Modi, who said during the election campaign, “We will make Yamuna ji the identity of Delhi, no matter how much time and energy it takes.”
Union Minister Harsh Malhotra reaffirmed the BJP’s commitment to completing the Yamuna clean-up within the promised timeframe.
History of Delays and Legal Battles
Efforts to clean the Yamuna have seen setbacks due to political and legal challenges:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had formed a high-level committee chaired by L-G Saxena to oversee the river’s restoration in January 2023.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, led by Arvind Kejriwal, approached the Supreme Court to challenge the NGT’s appointment of the L-G as the committee head.
The Supreme Court, led by then Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, stayed the NGT’s order, halting the restoration efforts.
Future Outlook
With renewed political will and public pressure, the Yamuna restoration is now back on track. The BJP’s win and PM Modi’s promise have heightened expectations for significant progress within the three-year timeline set by the L-G’s office.
