Yamuna water to be fit for drinking in 3 years: Centre

The Centre has set a three-year timeline to make the water of polluted Yamuna fit for drinking. Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil yesterday said in the next one and a half years, Yamuna water will become fit for bathing and in another one and a falf years, fit for drinking.

He also confirmed plans to tap the Ganga water for cleaning up Yamuna. "Yamuna is among the most polluted rivers today. Advanced plans are afoot to clean the river. We have drafted the broad guidelines and decided who will do what. Accountability has been fixed," the minister said.

He said talks were on with the Uttar Pradesh Government to divert the Ganga water from the upper Ganga canal into the Yamuna. A compensation for UP will be worked out as part of the scheme.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is personally overseeing the Yamuna cleaning project, a major poll promise of the BJP government in Delhi.

Paatil added that Ganga water was fit for bathing and would soon become fit for drinking too.