Often at logger-heads, the BJP-led NDA Government and Arvind Kejriwal dispensation today came together to launch a fresh "wholesome" action plan worth around Rs 825 crore to rid Yamuna of its filth within two-and-half years.
Under the third Yamuna Action Plan (YAP), flagged off by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti in the presence of Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra here, the two governments will carry out works such as construction of STPs along drains between Wazirabad and Okhla to treat waste water, clean the river's surface removing solid waste with trash skimmers, create river fronts and repair Chhat Ghat.
"Under this plan, we will build STPs to curb its pollution, create a new riverfront, repair Chhat Ghat spending Rs 2.5 crore. We have also deployed trash skimmer worth Rs 4.5 crore for cleaning Yamuna consistently.
"If need be, we will deploy more such skimmers. Thus, we are treating solid waste, sewage waste and if we get any proposal from state, we will treat chemical waste too," Bharti said.
Thanking the Central government for its initiative, Mishra noted launch of the work is "historic" and said the authorities will ensure "not a single" drop of filthy water flows into the river after next two-and-half years.
"I thank Uma didi, her ministry and the Government. We are working like a team. And a result of it, we have launched work on this comprehensive package of treating waste water, removing solid waste and repairing Chhat Ghat. This is an historic beginning," he said.
Mishra said the Kejriwal-led government is working on a "comprehensive" action plan which will be submitted to Centre within 30-45 days and executed after consulting Delhi residents.
He also stated that students of US-based Virginia University will chalk out a plan to clean the river.
"We will execute the project in a time-bound manner, we intend to clean the river, in which not a drop of dirty water flows into, in two to two-and-half years. And the way things are moving, we can see that happening," he added.
During her speech, Bharti said the governments plan to construct small barrages to hold Yamuna's water and release the same in the river during lean period to ensure adequate flow.
"We are also thinking of recharging Yamuna with Yamuna's water only. Hence, small barrages will be built, electricity will be produced. But the main intention is to recharge Yamuna with Yamuna's water only," she added.
Noting previous YAP-I and YAP-II did not yield results
even as Rs 1500 crore were spent for cleaning Yamuna, Bharti said the fresh attempt to clean the river be made keeping in mind flaws committed in the past.
She also pitched for completing Lakhwar-Vyasi project to ensure Yamuna received extra water and insisted the river, a tributary of Ganga, is cleaned between Delhi and Mathura-Vrindavan so that the latter doesn't receive polluted water at their confluence.
The Lakhwar-Vyasi project on Yamuna entails construction of a 204-metre high dam with storage capacity of 580 million cubic metres.
Out of the total expenditure to be made under YAP-III, 85 per cent will be borne by Centre, while Delhi Government will take care of rest of expenses.
YAP-III, an initiative under Centre's 'Namami Gange' programme, includes rehabilitation/modernisation of STPs of a total of 814 MLD capacity at Okhla, Kondli and Rithala; construction of a new 136-MLD capacity STP at Okhla rehabilitation of sewer lines/rising mains in the catchments of Kondli and Rithala STPs and public outreach Activities.
Besides this, repair and rehabilitation of sewer lines/rising mains in Kondli, Rithala, Narwana Road, Anand Vihar, Hargovind Enclave, Vikas marg, Ashok Vihar and Jahangirpuri will be taken up under the eight YAP-III schemes.
The renovation of Chhat Ghat has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 2.51 crore, Bharti said.
