The Hindu : Yamuna campaign launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 01, 2002

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Yamuna campaign launched

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 31. The Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, accompanied by her Cabinet colleagues, today began the second phase of "Shramdaan'' aimed at reviving the Yamuna -- the lifeline of Delhi. Ms. Dikshit, joined by the Delhi Mayor, Jaishree Pawar, launched the programme at Sur Ghat near the Wazirabad Bridge.

As soon as the Chief Minister arrived at the venue around 7 a.m., a large number of MLAs were seen falling over each other to gain her attention. Instead of devoting their energy to joining Ms. Dikshit in carrying forward this unique programme, the legislators and certain Congress activists pushed and jostled each other and stuck out their faces from behind to get the attention of the newspaper photographers who were busy clicking the Chief Minister. Also present on the occasion was the Chief Secretary, Shailja Chandra, who also lent her hand to the cause.

Ms. Dikshit informed that in order to check pollutants flowing into the river, common affluent treatment plants were being set up in all the industrial areas in the Capital. She said it was plastics which badly affected the river as it was being dumped indiscriminately along with non-degradable items.

She made an impassioned appeal to the people of Delhi to come and join hands to save the river from further deterioration. Later, the Chief Minister crossed over to the Eastern side of the river and joined the group at Garhi Mandu and Majnu Ka Tila Gurdwara. On the Western bank, she joined the Finance Minister, Mahinder Singh Saathi, who was busy removing garbage and plastics. The Health Minister, A.K.Walia, had taken up position at the Geeta Colony Pontoon Bridge.

The campaign was launched at seven points simultaneously and witnessed the participation of volunteers, student groups, school children, RWAs and of course the legislators and Councillors. The three-day campaign, the second during the past one year, is aimed at creating awareness among the people from all walks of life to lend a helping hand to revive the dying river which is full of garbage, plastics, waste and polluting particulates.

Apart from removing garbage from the Yamuna, efforts would be made to clean the historic ghats which over a period of time have fallen prey to piling garbage and increased silt in the river. In fact, the Shramdaan is only an expression of solitary and cooperation which the people of Delhi have to exhibit in this hour of crisis. On the West Yamuna Bank, work was carried out at the Wazirabad Bridge, Majnu Ka Tila Gurudwara, Kudasia Ghat and ITO Bridge. On the East Yamuna Bank, it was undertaken at Garhi Mandu Pontoon Bridge, Opposition Bank Enclave, Geeta Colony Pontoon Bridge. The whole affair is being executed and coordinated by the Department of Environment of Delhi Government.

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