Delhi Launches ₹8,941 Cr Yamuna Projects, Clean River Target 2029
New Delhi: A major push to restore the Yamuna river gathered pace on Thursday as Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth ₹8,941 crore in the national capital. The government has set a target of cleaning the river by 2029.
Shah said the initiative traces back to a major meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after the formation of the new government in Delhi. At that meeting, Modi shared his vision for the river with the Delhi government and the Home Ministry.
“Within this short period, we have achieved over 40 percent success,” Shah said.
On Thursday, 10 projects were formally inaugurated and 33 new projects were initiated. The schemes are expected to treat several lakh litres of water before it is discharged into the Yamuna.
The projects are spread across various areas of Delhi. Foundation stones were laid for upgrading existing sewage treatment plants and constructing new STPs. A decentralised STP pumping station has also been installed, and the process of connecting homes to sewer lines has started.
“We are carrying forward sewer rehabilitation, drainage and tapping works,” Shah stated, adding his confidence that the Yamuna would be cleaned before May 2029.
Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and several other prominent personalities were present.
Shah also criticised certain political parties for relying on excuses. Referring to the former AAP government in Delhi, he said earlier administrations claimed they received no assistance. “We have answers to all their claims, and we will respond after their government is gone from Punjab,” he remarked.
He charged that the previous government's only achievements were gaining power through protests and corruption. He also accused it of using the garbage mountain issue for politics, while his government had worked to reduce them. He said gardens would appear in place of these mountains within two years.
According to Shah, the Rekha Gupta government, backed by PM Modi's Centre, has removed 2.17 crore metric tonnes of waste and freed 100 acres from garbage.
He said the height of the Okhla and Bhalswa garbage mounds had dropped by 30 to 40 metres, while Ghazipur's mound had reduced by 10 to 15 metres.
Shah further alleged that the previous government did no concrete work for Yamuna cleanup, and highlighted world-class work at Saraikale Khan and the ITO area, including Asita East, Bansera and Vasudev Ghat.
Finally, he outlined a three-year plan to provide sewer connections to every home in Delhi so that wastewater can be properly drained, along with arrangements for clean drinking water supply to every household.