Will the Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan be Unveiled on September 30?

New Delhi, Sep 19 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, announced on Friday that a comprehensive plan for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River will be presented by the government on September 30.

During the inauguration of a new Drainage Master Plan, which aims to address the persistent issues of urban flooding and waterlogging in the national capital over the next 30 years, CM Gupta indicated that the initiative to revitalize the river will be rolled out in a phased approach.

As part of the “Seva Pakhwada” celebrations in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, projects totaling Rs 4,000 crore, including the Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan, will be inaugurated on September 30.

During the announcement of the Drainage Master Plan, Manohar Lal Khattar, the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, stated: “With an estimated investment of over Rs 57,000 crore, this plan is aimed at mitigating urban flooding, enhancing surface storage, minimizing runoff, and improving primary stormwater channels to ultimately elevate the living standards of Delhi’s citizens.”

Manohar Lal Khattar, CM Gupta, and Parvesh Verma, the Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister, collectively released three distinct master plans tailored for the Najafgarh, Barapullah, and Trans Yamuna basins, focusing on fortifying Delhi’s drainage systems for the next three decades.

The launch event, held at the NDMC Convention Centre, formed part of the nationwide celebration of Seva Pakhwada (September 17 – October 2), commemorating PM Modi’s 75th birthday.

Manohar Lal emphasized that the new drainage master plan reflects our dedication to resolving these pressing concerns.

“Developed after extensive consultations, data analysis, and research, this detailed plan will serve as a roadmap for addressing Delhi’s drainage requirements, offering relief from waterlogging and protecting the city from related challenges,” he mentioned.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta shared insights from her personal inspections of the Barapullah Nallah, Kushak Drain, Minto Bridge, and ITO Bridge ahead of the monsoon season.

She highlighted that, for the first time, locations such as Minto Bridge and ITO did not experience significant waterlogging this year, which had been a persistent issue in the past.

Parvesh Verma asserted: “Upon our government’s formation, we promptly acted to tackle the waterlogging issues in Delhi. We visited the key waterlogging hotspots throughout the city and implemented concrete measures. Our teams cleared 20 lakh metric tonnes of silt from drains and desilted areas, which were then transported to construction and demolition waste recycling plants.”

He added: “I am proud to announce that despite receiving the highest rainfall in 15 years, Delhi did not experience major flooding. Our integrated Drainage Masterplan is a thorough strategy to ensure that Delhi remains flood-free, allowing our residents to live without the threat of waterlogging.”

The last comprehensive drainage strategy for Delhi was created in 1976 when the city’s population was merely 60 lakh. Now, with the population approaching 2.5 crore and rapid urbanization, this new plan is critically needed.

Crafted by the PWD in collaboration with eight civic agencies including Irrigation and Flood Control, MCD, DDA, NHAI, DJB, and NDMC, the new Drainage Master Plan spans the entire 18,958 km drainage network of Delhi.

This plan incorporates detailed feasibility studies that identify the causes of waterlogging, rainfall patterns, and bottlenecks, alongside actionable recommendations.