Sewage canal, river boats in BJP plan for a clean Yamuna

Sources said the L-G, Gadkari, and senior representatives of the Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Jal Board and Environment Ministry were present at the meeting. Ramesh Bidhuri, Udit Raj, Meenakshi Lekhi and Parvesh Singh Sahib were among the BJP MPs who attended the meeting.

“Three proposals were discussed – a proposal to check pollution levels in the Yamuna, harvesting rainwater and allowing the passage of boats (if possible) on the river between the Haryana border and Agra. The idea of beautification of the river was also discussed,” Bidhuri said.

Sources said a proposal was made to install at least one or two barrages between Okhla, Wazirabad and Kalindi Kunj to harvest rainwater. Another proposal was to have a canal running along the river which will carry sewage and thereby help in cleaning the river.

The meeting concluded with a decision to draft a report on how the three proposals can be executed, the estimated cost of the projects and how long it will take to be implement them.

“So far, the issue of cleaning the Yamuna has only been in talks. Not much has been done to actually implement a plan. To expedite the process, the report will be finalised in 10 days and the plan taken forward,” Bidhuri said.