Delhi opts for Seechewal model to clean Yamuna

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 23

Amid the mounting drinking water crisis in Delhi, the government has declared that it would adopt the Seechewal model for cleaning Yamuna.

The announcement comes a day before Delhi Water Minister’s meeting with Union Minister Uma Bharti on Tuesday on this issue.

Water Minister and Chairman of Delhi Jal Board, Kapil Mishra today said the government will seek the help of environmentalist Sant Balbir Seechewal.

“We have planned to clean the Yamuna – currently one of the most polluted waters of the world - within two to three years to provide drinking water to Delhi. The low cost plan set up by the environmentalist is cost efficient and simple,” he said.

CM Arvind Kejriwal has instructed me to take tips from Sant Seechewal on this count. In fact it should be applied elsewhere as well,” he added.

Mishra called on the environmentalist a little over two months ago after CM Arvind Kejriwal met Seechewal on March 15.

Singh showed the team the low cost water treatment plant used to irrigate the fields in the area. Mishra said if this model proves successful in Delhi, the world would be attracted to it.

He also extended an invitation to Seechewal to visit Delhi to meet Kejriwal and a team of Delhi Jal Board.

Mishra was accompanied by state AAP convener Sucha Singh Chottepur and senior officials of the board

“The model has already been applied to 1,657 villages of the Ganga and will be implemented for Yamuna. I will extend my support to any party that would roll out a concrete agenda on this issue,” Seechewal said.