NEW DELHI, 19 February (H.S.)

people forgot about the

Boat-Club in Lutyens area, where in earlier days, Delhiites used to do boating.

Now people can enjoy boating on Yamuna River in Delhi, Work on making the river

front plan has already started.

BJP, which won Delhi by

making Yamuna an issue, is committed to the development of Yamuna, the

surrounding greenery will change the picture of tourism.Yamuna river, the heartbeat of Delhi, is now moving

towards a new make-over. Even before assuming power in the capital, BJP has

made cleaning of Yamuna as it is part’s priority. The sources said, “ ‘Meri

Yamuna’ ka ‘Naya Safar’ shuru ho chuka hai”. A plan has also been made to develop

Yamuna River Front like Sabarmati River Front in Gujarat. To fulfill the job,

Yamuna river will not only be clean but will also become a major tourist

destination in Delhi, work for this has also been started. Asita East Park has

been built by Delhi Development Authority on the east of Yamuna River bed near

Delhi Secretariat. This park will be developed as Yamuna River Front.

A large part of Delhi's

water supply comes from the Yamuna River. This river originates from Yamunotri

in Uttarakhand and travels a long distance and meets the Ganga River in

Prayagraj. Yamuna river enters Delhi from Palla village and travels 52

kilometers to Jaitpur. Meanwhile, before Wazirabad its water remains relatively

clean, but after that its water becomes poisonous due to 26 big drains falling

into the river. According to experts, about 350 crore liters of sewage is

generated every day in Delhi, most of which is discharged directly into Yamuna

without treatment. The amount of oxygen in the river reduces and foam starts

forming in the water. Despite spending thousands of crores of rupees in the

last three decades, there has been no major improvement in the condition of

Yamuna.

Cleaning of Yamuna is the

priority of BJP government; it was in the election manifesto and prior election

issue. BJP had made Yamuna cleaning a major issue in the Delhi Assembly

elections. To fulfill the election promises, the BJP government has started

preparing an action plan even before assuming power. The party's aim is not

only to clean Yamuna but also to develop it as a tourist destination. BJP

leader and New Delhi MLA Pravesh Verma had gone to the banks of Yamuna and

offered prayers on the day of counting of votes. He called it the renaissance

of a sacred river and pledged to make it clean and beautiful. Under the

government plan, both the banks of Yamuna will be developed and facilities like

green belt, walkway, cycle track and boating will be started here.

The Sabarmati Riverfront

in Ahmedabad is a successful example, where the river was managed and developed

as a tourist destination. Parks, walkways, cycling tracks, boating facilities

and beautiful green belts have been built there. Yamuna will also be developed

on similar lines. The government has approached the company that built the

Sabarmati Riverfront and plans are being made to implement a similar model in

Yamuna, in Delhi. Under this project, special attention will be given to

seating areas, greenery, light system, water management on the river banks.

Yamuna River Front will

become the center of attraction in Delhi's tourism which will earn a big fat

amount. Delhi is already famous for historical places like Red Fort, India

Gate, Qutub Minar, Purana Qila and Akshardham Temple. The construction of

Yamuna River Front will make it even more attractive. Here people will not only

be able to enjoy walking and cycling but will also be able to enjoy activities

like boating and water sports.

These works will be done

to revive Yamuna, The work will be done to stop the discharge of industrial

waste and domestic sewage directly into the river. Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)

will be expanded. The dirty water falling from all the drains will be treated

and discharged into the river. There will be public participation, along with

making people aware, strict restrictions will be imposed on spreading filth on

the river banks. With the will of the government and administration, the plans

will be implemented not only on paper but on the ground.

Agreement with Andaman and

Nicobar Administration on Yamuna Riverfront Development Project

Delhi Lieutenant Governor

Vinay Kumar Saxena, while sharing information on social media platform X, had

said that Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has expanded its jurisdiction

outside Delhi for the first time. In this historic plan, DDA signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Administration. This important agreement took place at “Asita”, a major part of

the Yamuna Riverfront Development Project in the presence of Delhi LG V K

Saxena and Andaman & Nicobar’s LG Admiral D K Joshi.

Cleaning of Yamuna has

remained a big issue for the last 32 years. Many schemes were made in three

phases under the Yamuna Action Plan, but their impact has been negligible. Now

the BJP government seems determined to clean it with new energy. If this time

the government keeps its promises and adopts the right strategy, this project

can bring a historic change for the people of Delhi. Yamuna will not only be

clean, but can also become the new tourism hotspot of Delhi which will earn for

Delhi Government also.

Hindusthan Samachar / Meenakshi Bhattacharya