How Will a Joint Panel of Centre, Haryana, and Delhi Make the Yamuna Clean?
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Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Aug 20 (NationPress) Haryana's Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced on Wednesday the establishment of a joint committee involving senior officials from the Central Water Commission (CWC) alongside representatives from both Haryana and Delhi, aimed at restoring the Yamuna river to its pristine condition, similar to the Ganga.
This committee's mandate extends beyond just cleaning the river; it will also tackle various correlated issues. The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the media following a meeting on "Inter-State Coordination Related to Yamuna Water Rejuvenation," which was led by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil.
CM Saini emphasized that since the inauguration of the Delhi government under Rekha Gupta, efforts for developmental initiatives have been accelerated, and implementation is ongoing without delay.
He highlighted that the cleanup operations for the Yamuna are being executed with urgency. The treatment of sewage from drains via sewage treatment plants (STPs) prior to its discharge into the river has seen a marked increase in pace.
The Chief Minister reported that as part of the current campaign, approximately 16,000 metric tonnes of waste have already been extracted from the Yamuna.
The goal is to ensure the river is clean and pure in alignment with the vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He assured that revitalizing the Yamuna is a primary concern for both state governments, and the public can anticipate witnessing a rejuvenated river soon.
According to him, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) level of the drain entering the Yamuna from Palla village in Karnal district stands at 80, with measures underway to further refine this water quality. Notably, the BOD levels of Yamuna water at Okhla in Faridabad have shown significant improvement.
To further enhance water quality, 44 STPs have already been constructed, treating around 620 MLD of water daily.
Additionally, nine more STPs are in the process of being established to handle another 510 MLD of water. The Chief Minister stressed that environmental and water-related issues transcend state boundaries, necessitating cooperative efforts from both states to fully cleanse the Yamuna.
He announced that strict actions are being implemented to prevent the direct discharge of polluted water into the river, with directives already issued to relevant authorities.
Furthermore, the expertise and services of representatives from both Delhi and Haryana will be utilized to oversee the Najafgarh Lake and its drainage system.
In addition, the BOD levels of industrial wastewater released from Haryana will be subjected to regular monitoring.