Prime Minister Modi advocates ‘people’s movement’ for Yamuna rejuvenation

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the ‘people’s movement’ under the concept of “Jan-Nadi Sambandh” to instill a sense importance of river Yamuna and actively contribute to its preservation.

Prime Minister made these remarks while, chairing a high-level meeting in Delhi to assess the current situation of the Yamuna River and the plans for its rejuvenation. He also noted that the river is not just a water source, but a center of cultural identity.

During the meeting detailed agency-wise plan for the cleaning of the Yamuna was examined, and the plan was divided into three phases: Short-term (three months), Medium-term (three months to one and a half years), and Long-term (one and a half to three years). Each phase includes clearly defined activities and objectives.

The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister of Jal Shakti C R Patil, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, and other senior officials.

The discussion also focused on major aspects of river rejuvenation, including drainage and solid waste management, treatment of sewage and septage, disposal of dairy and industrial waste, enhancing river flow, and securing floodplain areas.

In addition, the meeting focused on the urgent need to redevelop the water infrastructure of Delhi to address issues like water leakage and unbilled water in the city’s supply system.

In this regard, Delhi will develop a comprehensive Urban River Management Plan, which will be integrated with the Delhi Master Plan. This initiative will not only aid in the conservation of the Yamuna but also enhance urban water management.

During the meeting PM Modi also emphasised the use of advanced technology for better monitoring and directed that real-time data should be collected on drains and STPs, which can then be used to create effective policies and strengthen pollution control frameworks. He also suggested leveraging ‘space technology’ for more accurate and widespread monitoring.

According to data more than 800 million litres of largely untreated sewage is pumped in the Yamuna each day. Another 44 million litres of industrial effluents are also discharged daily into the river.

Sewage that is treated before being released into the river accounts for only 35% of the total estimated sewage discharge.

Yamuna river is a major source of water supply to Delhi, with nearly 57 million people depending on the Yamuna’s waters. With an annual flow of about 10,000 cubic billion metres, the river accounts for more than 70% of Delhi’s water supply.