YMC reports lack of progress in work to NGT

NEW DELHI: The Yamuna Monitoring Committee (YMC) raised several issues in its fifth report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). YMC said, “Several agencies missing deadlines related to cleaning the river and internal problems of the organisations” are few of the major issues. The report noted that the work done to clean the river is nowhere near the achievement of the milestones and timelines laid out by NGT.

The YMC, headed by Shailaja Chandra, Former Delhi Chief Secretary and B.S. Sajwan, retired NGT expert member, said that the lack of progress can be attributed to several officers being on leave sporadically; financial and administrative approvals getting delayed; and a loss of momentum because of the pandemic. The report also found the system of monitoring by the Delhi Jal Board ineffective. It said that there was no evidence that bottlenecks had been brought to the notice of the board and of the government or the intervention of higher authorities was sought.