1,200 Metric Tonnes Of Garbage Removed From Yamuna River, Says Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena

New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Sunday (April 30) took stock of the Clean Yamuna campaign on a boat in which he travelled 11 km in the river and said that efforts to clean Yamuna river were not made earlier but now the effect of our cleanliness campaign is visible. While addressing the mediapersons, LG VK Saxena said,

Today is a historic day. For the first time, 25-30 boats moved together in Yamuna. From Signature Bridge to ITO, we travelled the entire 11 km by boat in the Yamuna. Plastic or any garbage was not seen in Yamuna anywhere in this entire area. The effect of our work is visible. By June 30 we will clean the remaining part of Yamuna as well.

“There were many difficulties in this work, which gradually became easier and it proved that if we are determined, and have the will to do some work, then nothing is impossible. Never before had such efforts been made, due to which the Yamuna was so dirty,” he added.

Also Read: Delhi Lt. Governor Launches Plantation Drive For Restoration Of Yamuna Floodplains

In this regard, LG VK Saxena also took to Twitter and said,

Inspected 11-km Signature Bridge-ITO Barrage stretch of Yamuna on completion of 1st phase of HLC-monitored Yamuna cleaning operations. Happy to share, a significant improvement on key parameters in Yamuna with the removal of 1200 MT of garbage from Yamuna since works started on Feb 12.

He further stated that the second phase of cleaning operations will focus on cleaning the banks of the river.

“The 2nd phase will commence tomorrow with a focus on transformation through cleaning of Yamuna banks and desilting of midstream muck. The cleaning of Najafgarh Drain has also yielded desired results in terms of BoD level coming down significantly on a year-on-year basis,” he tweeted.

Earlier last week LG VK Saxena chaired the High-Level Committee (HLC) on the rejuvenation of River Yamuna, constituted by the NGT where Delhi’s (L-G) V.K. Saxena, who is also Chairman of the HLC, reviewed the progress of works and the Action Taken Report (ATR) with regards to directions issued under eight specific heads aimed at specific targets.

Also Read: ‘Good’ Air Quality Days In Delhi Highest During January-April: Report

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NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.