Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has rolled out an ambitious four-pronged strategy to clean the Yamuna, setting a three-year target for restoring the polluted river. Cleaning operations have already begun, with trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility crafts deployed to remove waste, his office said on Sunday.
What’s the plan?
The LG’s office outlined a step-by-step approach to tackle the crisis:
1) Clearing the riverbed – Removing trash, garbage, and silt from the Yamuna’s stream.
2) Draining the drains – Simultaneous cleanup of major drains, including Najafgarh and Supplementary Drains.
3) Fixing sewage treatment plants (STPs) – Monitoring existing STPs daily for capacity and efficiency.
4) Scaling up treatment – Constructing new STPs and DSTPs to handle the shortfall of 400 MGD sewage treatment.
The plan requires coordination between multiple agencies, including the DJB, MCD, DDA, PWD, and the Environment Department, with weekly top-level monitoring.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has also been tasked with cracking down on industrial units releasing untreated effluents into drains.