Mon Feb 17 00:41:00 UTC 2025: ## Yamuna River Cleanup Begins in Delhi: Three-Year Plan Unveiled
**New Delhi, February 17, 2025** – A major cleanup operation of the polluted Yamuna River commenced in Delhi on Sunday, following a BJP election promise. The initiative, spearheaded by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, employs a four-pronged strategy focusing on removing trash and silt from the river, cleaning major drains feeding into it, monitoring existing sewage treatment plants (STPs), and constructing new STPs to address a shortfall in sewage treatment capacity.
The LG’s office announced a three-year timeline for the project, requiring close collaboration between several Delhi government agencies including the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Irrigation & Flood Control department (I&FC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Environment Department, Public Works Department (PWD), and Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The cleanup involves the deployment of trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility crafts.
BJP MLA-elect Raj Kumar Bhatia expressed confidence that the river would be clean within the three-year timeframe, enabling the celebration of festivals like Chhath Puja on its banks. He contrasted the current initiative with previous attempts under the previous AAP government, claiming those efforts were hampered by legal challenges. The Election Commission had previously cautioned AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal against linking increased ammonia levels in the river to deliberate poisoning.
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