NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired a meeting on the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River, during which he directed the governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to collaborate as a team with an integrated action plan to clean up the water body.
Ensuring Ecological Flow
Asking the three adjoining states to ensure standard ecological flow—the quantity, timing, and quality of water required to sustain the river's ecosystem—in the Yamuna, Shah noted that they had collectively established 128 sewage treatment plants (STPs), with 99 more to be added by the end of 2027. He emphasized the need for proper monitoring of STPs and industrial effluents.
Industrial and Dairy Waste Management
“The home minister directed that the construction of common industrial effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and dairy waste management be undertaken with future requirements in mind,” an MHA spokesperson said after the meeting, which was attended by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, Delhi LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, among others.
Reviewing different aspects of the rejuvenation plan, Shah said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed soon between the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to discontinue the discharge of dairy waste into the Yamuna. This waste will instead be converted into 'gobar gas' and manure, he explained. “As per the NDDB model, bio-waste (dung) from dairies and cow-shelters will be directly transported to biogas and manure plants, alongside the scientific management of waste along the banks of Yamuna,” Shah told the meeting.
Call for Collective Action
While underlining that a clean and pristine Yamuna is a resolve taken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the home minister called upon all stakeholders to join hands to fulfil it expeditiously. He shared that desilting work in drains emptying into the Yamuna was progressing well. “Nearly 97% of the estimated 28.6 lakh million tonnes of silt has already been extracted, and the remainder shall be removed by June 15. The removed silt will be used in various manufacturing projects to ensure it does not wash back into the Yamuna during rains,” said Shah.
Monitoring and Timelines
All drains and water sources feeding the Yamuna should be regularly evaluated on parameters like biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS), he stated. Shah asked for a detailed, time-bound roadmap to be prepared for all Yamuna rejuvenation projects, with proper arrangements for their long-term maintenance. He called for a review of progress and implementation of the Yamuna rejuvenation plan every 20 days.
