New Delhi, 10 November (H.S.): Delhi Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control Parvesh Sahib Singh has described the Namo Yamuna River Safari as a significant initiative to reconnect people with the river. He said that, from the very first day, the Delhi Government’s priorities had been to restore the cleanliness of the Yamuna and develop a beautiful riverfront in the national capital.

Speaking on Tuesday at the inauguration of the ‘Namo Yamuna River Cruise Service’ in Sonia Vihar, the minister said that, over the years, people had almost forgotten that a river flowed through Delhi. Today, however, they were beginning to see the Yamuna as a river rather than merely a drain.

He expressed the firm belief that developing a riverfront would only be possible if the river itself was clean. Over the past 18–19 months, efforts to rejuvenate the 52-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna flowing through Delhi had been advanced, with significant progress achieved on several fronts. In the next phase, particular attention would be directed towards the stretch between Wazirabad and Kalindi Kunj. The completion of this work would require another two to two-and-a-half years, he said.

The minister said that, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s guidance and the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Delhi Government remained committed to restoring the Yamuna’s lost glory and identity.

Keeping the Yamuna clean was a collective responsibility, he emphasised, urging the people of Delhi to actively participate in the effort.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar