By IANS,
New Delhi : The Yamuna river, the Indian capital’s choked and dying lifeline, could see a new surge of life if the suggestions made Thursday by an environment committee are acted upon.
The suggestions made by the Delhi legislative assembly’s environment committee include that all encroachments within the Yamuna riverbed be removed immediately, the bank be developed as a tourist and pilgrimage centre and the sewage of all colonies along its banks be treated before being emptied into the river.
The committee said that all departments and agencies concerned with cleaning of the Yamuna should put in their combined efforts and on priority basis.
“All encroachments within the riverbed of the Yamuna should be removed immediately by the DDA and banks should be developed as tourists and pilgrimage centres because it is an emotional ingredient of Indian culture,” the committee suggested.
It suggested that sewer facility be provided in all unauthorized colonies and villages to make their environment pollution-free and also arrangements should be made for treating the sewage of these places before it is allowed to fall into the Yamuna.
The committee also felt that as cleaning work of the Yamuna is not related with only one department or agency, all departments and agencies concerned should put their combined efforts and even the common man should be made aware to achieve the desired target.
It further suggested that green belts be developed along the banks of the Yamuna and all the filthy water drains falling in it be channelised by providing them a separate channel.
The Delhi Jal Bard has a sewage treatment capacity of 512 MGD against sewage generation of around 620 MGD in the city. However, due to sanitation and broken sewer lines, these treatment plans are used at capacity of only 350 MGD.
Various sewage projects related to the Yamuna are soon going to start and construction of sewer works in other parts of the capital are also in progress. The committee suggested that all these works should be carried out on priority.
The nine-member committee includes high profile politicians of Delhi like Delhi BJP chief Harshvardhan and former Delhi Congress chief Ram Babu Sharma.
In another report of the same committee, it suggested several measures to maintain the environmental balance in the capital.
The committee expressed concern over continuous encroachment in the Ridge area and recommended their immediate removal. It also directed that the government should ensure the safety of all animals in the Ridge area and Delhi residents be made aware of conservation of the area.
It also recommended that the authorities should plant 10 times the number of trees cut for the Metro rail lines.
It recommended water harvesting systems at all important places in the capital to solve water problems as well as installation of solar energy based generators.