Yamuna must become tourist attraction by 2019: NGT

The pollution in Yamuna would drop by at least 67% after May 2019, the National Green Tribunal observed on Friday.

“Time is not far when the people of Delhi would be able to walk across the banks of river Yamuna without breathing stinking air. They would not have to fear while entering the river on auspicious occasions or otherwise and the river would become the site of tourism for the entire Delhi,” observed a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.

The NGT was hearing a petition filed by environmentalist Manoj Misra in which he had sought that the green body should monitor the ‘Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017’.

In the first phase of the project, two drains – Najafgarh Drain and Delhi Gate Drain – that contribute around 67% of the pollution in the river would be taken up for cleaning. In the second phase, the rest 33-35% of the polluting drains will be tackled.

The Yamuna receives around 74% of its pollution load in the 22-km stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla. Out of this the Najafgarh drain and Delhi Gate drain contribute the maximum.

The NGT was informed by the DDA’s counsel that at least 14 Sewage Treatment Plants are coming up and would be commissioned by May 2019.

This would treat around 67% of the river pollution which comes from the two drains.

“Pollution reduction by treating 67% in phase-I itself would bring back the life of the river, to some extent, and its biodiversity and aquatic life,” the bench said.

The green body also constituted a committee comprising CEO of Delhi Jal Board, chief engineer of DDA and a representative of National Mission for Clean Ganga which would execute the orders of the NGT to bring down pollution levels in the Yamuna and report to it.

The civic bodies have been directed to remove solid waste from the drains and dredge them.

The civic bodies would have to inform the NGT what methodology would be used so that municipal waste lying deep on the river bed could be removed.

The NGT also directed DDA, civic bodies, state irrigation department, DJB to restore and revive all water bodies across Delhi.

The authorities have been ordered to keep the water bodies clean and prevent them from becoming a dumping yard for waste and sites for open defecation.

Polluting industries would be also shut down in the second phase of the project, as per the national Green Tribunal order. Nearly two hours after he took oath as Delhi’s water minister, Rajendra Pal Gautam was already on the phone scheduling a 3 pm meeting with Delhi Jal Board officials on Saturday – the organisation responsible for water supply in the capital.

“Water is the right of every individual and my focus will be to ensure it reaches every one,” Gautam told HT after being sworn in by the Lieutenant Governor.

A lawyer by training, 47-year old Gautam prefers to call himself a social worker. “I was an active member of the Samta Sainik Dal through which I contributed to Dalit movements across the country,” he said.

He joined the Aam Aadmi Party in November, 2014 and was elected MLA from Seemapuri in the 2015 assembly elections. Nil Education, finance, planning, revenue Health, PWD, power, home Law, Justice IT

Transport, Transport minister Kailash Gahlot’s political career began in college when he was elected president of the Sri Venkateswara College student union. “We did a lot of things. Venky did not have an auditorium. We fought for it and got it built,” said Gahlot who later studied law from DU’s Campus Law Centre. Gahlot has been practising law in the high court for the past 18 years and was elected as the member executive in the recent HC elections. Gahlot said, “It was in 2014, when I got involved with AAP. It came to be naturally because I had an inclination towards politics.”

The Najafgarh MLA is also involved in social work. “We have a family trust which runs a school. I also set up around 100 skill centres for women where they are taught stitching and beauty care,” he said.

THE YAMUNA RECEIVES AROUND 74% OF ITS POLLUTION LOAD IN THE 22KM STRETCH BETWEEN WAZIRABAD AND OKHLA

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