Committee identifies 3 more focus areas to expedite Yamuna cleaning

NEW DELHI: The high-level committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena has identified three more areas which would expedite the Yamuna River cleaning.

As per the statement of the LG, three more focus areas identified by the committee includes separating stormwater drains from sewerage line developed due to faulty connections, preventing waste dumping from the bridges and desilting sewer lines below 1,000 mm diameter, which are lengthened at around 442.63 km.

The committee would also ensure the damage is repaired and bridges on the river are covered through wire mesh to prevent anything from being dumped in the river. The list of bridges under the supervision includes Geeta Colony Road Bridge, Signature Road Bridge, Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) near Kashmere Gate, Old Iron Railway Bridge, Wazirabad Barrage Road Bridge, ITO Road Bridge, Nizamuddin Road Bridge, Railway Bridge Downstream of ITO, DND Flyway Road Bridge and Okhla Barrage Road Bridge.

LG said, “These bridges are maintained by different agencies and they would look after it.”

The high-level committee which was formed in January after the National Green Tribunal found that a substantial amount of work remains incomplete concerning the steps identified for the rejuvenation of River Yamuna. Also, there is a huge mismatch in the amount of sewage generated and the sewage treatment capacity of all available treatment plants.

The data released by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) shows High levels of biological oxygen demand and an enormous quantity of faecal coliform in the Yamuna River.

About delinking the stormwater drains from the sewerage lines Delhi LG’s office said, “The objective of this action plan is to rectify faulty interconnections between sewerage system and stormwater drainage. Secondly, under this plan, there will be full capacity utilisation of stormwater drainage.”

There are around 210 natural stormwater drains in Delhi and the irrigation and flood control department has been told to submit an agency-wise list of drains connected to sewerage lines. The committee informed that the drain monitoring agency will submit a detailed timeline for the delinking exercise at the next meeting.