Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena along with NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, conducted an inspection of the navigable stretch of the Yamuna river between ISBT and ITO Barrage. The inspection took place on a recently brought Indian Navy Boat, following its assessment of the stretch's navigability last month, as per the LG's request.
Accompanied by senior officials from stakeholder departments such as DDA, I&FC, MCD, and DJB, the LG and NGT Chairperson also assessed the progress of cleaning works on the river's floodplains, under the guidance of the High-Level Committee (HLC) established by the NGT on January 9.
The visiting team was joined by priests representing different faiths.The HLC has been monitoring the rejuvenation of the Yamuna river through eight distinct implementation parameters, including the cleaning and restoration of floodplains, as well as desiltation of accumulated sewerage in the river and its banks. The first phase of restoring the floodplains from Wazirabad Barrage to ITO Barrage began in February this year and has since been completed, while cleaning operations in the stretch between ITO Barrage and Okhla are currently underway. During the occasion, the LG highlighted the successful completion of cleaning works along the 11 km stretch until the ITO Barrage, visible for everyone to witness. He reiterated the need to involve the common residents of Delhi in any long-term solution for Yamuna's rejuvenation. Once the waterway becomes fully navigable, citizens can actively engage with the river, fostering a sense of belongingness towards the Yamuna, according to Saxena.
The LG emphasized that efforts to rejuvenate the river have gradually begun to yield encouraging results, evident in physical appearance of the ghats and improved water quality when compared on a year-to-year basis. Saxena specifically highlighted the extensive endeavors to clean Najafgarh Drain through desiltation and diversion of drains to Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).
He mentioned that cleaning the drain, responsible for about 68% of pollution in the river, would make a remarkable difference.
However, Saxena stressed that the task of cleaning the river, which has been neglected for over three decades despite consistent monitoring by the Supreme Court and the NGT, will take time to complete, indicating a long road ahead.