Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chaired a high-level review meeting on Yamuna rejuvenation in New Delhi today. The meeting was attended by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Shri Manohar Lal, Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C.R. Patil, Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, Union Home Secretary, Secretaries and senior officials of the concerned ministries and Delhi Government.

Addressing the meeting, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) should work in action mode to control water pollution. He said that the Delhi government should take continuous and effective steps to stop the increasing pollution from industrial units. Shri Amit Shah said that apart from Delhi, chemicals are also coming into the Yamuna River through waste from other states, so all these states should work together to clean the river Yamuna.

Shri Amit Shah emphasized on working on an action mode to improve the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the main drains of Najafgarh and Shahdara. Shri Amit Shah emphasized on conducting a drone survey of Delhi's two main drains, Najafgarh and Shahdara drains. He said that apart from the efforts being made by the Delhi government to clean the rivers, there is a need to increase the budget of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah laid special emphasis on cleaning the Yamuna as well as increasing the capacity of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). He directed to increase the STP capacity to 1500 MGD by 2028. Shri Shah said that all three states, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, should make efforts for Yamuna’s rejuvenation and there should be regularity and transparency in testing of the water flowing out of their STPs. He emphasized on third party quality testing of STP outflow.

Shri Amit Shah said that there are many reservoirs in Delhi in which the Delhi government should make arrangements to collect rainwater. Shri Shah said that developing these reservoirs will also promote tourism. Union Home Minister said that the Delhi government should work in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to manage the waste produced by dairies and cow shelters. Shri Amit Shah stressed on managing the unauthorized dairies in the national capital.

Shri Amit Shah laid special emphasis on increasing the e-flow in Yamuna and said that there is a need to talk to the Uttar Pradesh government on this issue and find a solution so that the flow of Yamuna can be improved at the time of its entry into Delhi. He said that the treated water of Okhla STP should be released downstream of Yamuna which will help in improving the quality of the river water.

Union Home Minister said that a detailed survey should be conducted regarding water supply in Delhi, so that it can be ascertained how much water is required to be supplied for catering one and all living in Delhi. Uncontrolled water extraction through borewells is a big problem in Delhi, on which the Delhi Jal Board needs to work by making an action plan. He said that these borewells should be regularized in a phased manner.

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