1,300 MT of waste cleared from Yamuna in 10 days, says Parvesh

Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Verma, who inspected the Yamuna by riding a boat on Wednesday, stated that 1,300 metric tonnes (MT) of garbage has been removed in the past 10 days.

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“After the BJP’s victory in Delhi, the Yamuna cleaning drive was accelerated, leading to the removal of 1,300 metric tonnes of waste from the river so far,” Verma said.

Verma conducted an inspection of cleanliness efforts at several Yamuna ghats across the national capital, covering areas from Signature Bridge, ITO and Chhath Ghat to Okhla Barrage. He took a boat from the Boat Club to Chhath Ghat and interacted with officials overseeing the cleaning operations. He reviewed progress on various sites.

The 48-year-old Jat leader has vowed to restore the Yamuna as a symbol of Delhi’s identity since he took charge as the Irrigation Minister in the newly formed BJP government in Delhi.

The minister stated that the BJP’s double-engine government was executing a well-planned roadmap and a concrete action plan for Yamuna’s cleaning and conservation.

“All drains in Delhi will be connected to sewage treatment plants (STPs) and their capacity will be increased to prevent untreated wastewater from flowing into the river. Common treatment plants (CTPs) will be installed in industrial areas to ensure proper disposal of chemical waste,” Verma said.

He said repairs, oiling and elevation of security walls at ITO Barrage gates were being carried out to prevent flooding.

“Special drives are being conducted to clean the Yamuna’s banks and develop green zones along the river. Moreover, the DDA has initiated the development of the Yamuna riverfront, transforming the riverbanks into a tourism and cultural hub,” the Minister said.

Criticising the previous AAP government, Verma said in the past 10 years, no substantial work was done for Yamuna’s cleaning and flood control. Rather, pollution levels doubled and flood management worsened.