Yamuna riverfront to be developed, but not on lines of Sabarmati: Mishra

New Delhi, May 14

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Water Minister Kapil Mishra termed the Sabarmati riverfront “ecologically damaging” and promised to develop the Yamuna riverfront “eco-friendly”.

Mishra said the Gujarat government had stopped the flow of the river and created a pond for the Sabarmati riverfront.

“They did not clean the Sabarmati as it is still dirty. They filled the pond with water from the Narmada river. No environmental expert appreciates the Sabarmati riverfront model as they used lots of concrete in the construction, which is damaging the ecology,” he said.

The government will follow the riverfront development plan prepared by noted ecologist and retired Delhi University professor CR Babu.

“The riverfront will be developed upstream of Wazirabad alongside Sonia Vihar on a 5 km area,” he said.

Mishra said earlier the plan was with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and was hanging in balance.

The plan talks about greenery along the riverfront for which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will soon start plantation of tree saplings.

“The Yamuna riverfront will offer clean recreational area, pathways, cycle tracks, greenery, and parks. Under the plan, two or three big reservoirs will be made for flood water harvesting,” he said.

Mishra also held a meeting with environmentalist Babu earlier this week. 

Babu said he would submit a written document of the riverfront plan to the government next week. — IANS