With a motive to make Delhi self sufficient to meet water demands, Delhi Cabinet gave nod to its pilot water conservation in the River Yamuna floodplains project. On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that the project will not only solve the present water crisis but will also make Delhi future ready.
“We regularly keep reading and seeing that the world is heading towards serious water crisis. And about Delhi also that water table are depleting fast,” said Kejriwal. “Keeping all this in mind, the Delhi Government has cleared an ambitious project for water conservation in the Yamuna Floodplains and it has been approved by the Cabinet today. We want to end water shortage in Delhi,” CM Kejriwal said who also holds the portfolio of water minister.
Notably, the Government has intended the ground water recharging this Monsoon.
According to Government officials, this work will be on experimental basis and the advantage of the experimental basis initiation this Monsoon will be that the Government will have a firm basis to precede on the full project next year, since it will have a better idea through the pilot this Monsoon. “The result of the pilot will help us form a clear idea about the success of this project, though the report of the project consultant and IIT Delhi indicate that this project will be a big success, since the Yamuna has a vast floodplain and has a big potential for water conservation and through this project we can solve the water shortage of Delhi,” Kejriwal added.
Elaborating the project details, water will be conserved in stretches from Palla till Wazirabad on eco-friendly basis and no construction or use of cement will be involved.
“Remarkably, the regular flow of Yamuna will not be touched at all,” Delhi government official said.
There will be creation of small water ponds and when Yamuna overflows during Monsoon, then the overflowing water will fill these ponds. “Water will then percolate down and it will spread leading to an increase in the water table of these areas,” quoted Chief Minister Office’s release.
“The good thing in Delhi is the flow of water from Yamuna slope is towards the city and not the other way round, therefore conservation of rain water is possible. Had the slope been towards Yamuna, then the rain water would have flown towards the river. The project consultant has also indicated the sites where conservation is possible,” Kejriwal said.
Notably, the land belongs to farmers and the Delhi government will use this land on rent. Delhi Government has formed a five-member committee of officers and asked them to give report by Monday.
“It is proposed to take land on lease from the land owners for the initial period of 3 Years. The land will be utilised to retain excess spill over flood water in farm ponds, shallow ponds, recharge structures through non-invasive interventions so that ground water could be recharged and ground water levels could be improved,” Delhi government’s statement quoted.
It is important to mention here that after the cabinet decision, Delhi government will require the concurrence of some Central government agencies, about which the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was informed in the recent meeting with him.