The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has suggested to the AAP Government to enact a legislation to create a Special Purpose Vehicle on the lines of the Delhi Metro for cleaning and rejuvenation of the Yamuna River. The river which enters through Palla and runs for 48 km in the National Capital Territory of Delhi is not coordinated by any single authority. While the DDA looks after 22 km of its flood plains between Wazirabad and Okhla, the remaining ones are managed by different departments of the City Government.
An internal note prepared by the Jal Board, accessed by The Pioneer, said that the SPV can enter into long-term arrangements for use of assets and facilities but will not be entitled to sell or alienate the land rights. “It will also coordinate the activities of stakeholders of upstream activities both within and outside Delhi.”
The note said that the SPV on its Board can have 15 representatives from NCR Planning Board, NITI Ayog, Union Urban Development Ministry, Centre’s Water Resources Ministry, Central Ground Water Authority, IIT, Delhi Police, East and SOUTH Municipal Corporations and city administration’s Urban Development department, DJB and DTTDC.
The Jal Board said that the SPV could adopt all feasible methods of financial closures for its procurement. “It can associate experts for consultations and advise on need basis. For operations of the SPV, a CEO/ VC/ MD can be retained either from organised services from deputation or from the open market depending on the availability of such professional expertise,” it said.
The AAP Government has been in a limbo on how to proceed with cleaning of the Yamuna as both Japan International Cooperative Agency and Union Urban Development ministry had shown their reluctance to finance the Jal Board for the project. The Government would require about Rs 20,000 crore for cleaning of the Yamuna. Union Government’s Water Resources River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Secretary Shashi Shekhar had recently written to National Green Tribunal chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar that it would be difficult for any Government to provide huge amount to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore in a single year or two for such projects.
In his letter, Shekhar said: “The total amount required to complete the Master Plan is to tune of Rs 20,000 crore and that only on implementation of the entire Plan, Yamuna would be free from untreated sewage.”
After holding a series of discussions on issues like non-development of waterways and river front and absence of a proper mechanism to coordinate water harvesting and water management both upstream and downstream, the Jal Board has now suggested that on the lines of the Delhi Metro the SPV should have 50 per cent shareholding each on part of the Centre and the State Government.