Massive 'Chalo Yamuna' Drive: 35,000 Volunteers Scrub 70 Ghats Clean
35,000 people joined the Chalo Yamuna campaign to clean 70 ghats. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch projects worth Rs 8,941 crore on Oct 22.
In a staggering display of civic duty and environmental passion, around 35,000 people descended upon the banks of the Yamuna on Sunday for the Chalo Yamuna campaign. In a single morning, the massive volunteer force managed to clean 70 different locations along both banks of the river, signaling a major push toward restoring the capital's lifeline.
Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh shared the details of the operation on Monday, revealing that the drive was a collaborative effort involving residents, students, NGO volunteers, and various government departments. The sheer scale of the cleanup resulted in the removal of approximately 76,755 kg of municipal solid waste from the riverfront.
A People's Movement for the River
The campaign saw a diverse demographic of participants coming together for a common cause. The breakdown of the workforce included:
- 20,000 citizens and Resident Welfare Association (RWA) members.
- 10,500 party workers.
- 2,500 students, including a significant presence from over 25 Delhi University colleges (with more than 400 students from Deshbandhu College alone).
- 2,000 NGO volunteers.
The cleanup spanned a vast stretch of the river, covering areas from Soor Ghat in Wazirabad and the Signature Bridge to Yamuna Bazar, ITO, Nizamuddin, Sarai Kale Khan, and Chilla.
Heavy Machinery and Government Synergy
To handle the massive amount of waste, more than 10 government departments coordinated their efforts, including the PWD, MCD, Delhi Jal Board, DUSIB, Delhi Police, DDMA, and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department. The logistical support was immense, featuring:
- 26 JCBs and 19 tractor-trolleys.
- 24 boats and seven weed harvesters/trash skimmers.
- 269 PWD maintenance vans.
Minister Singh also extended his gratitude to the 227 sanitation workers and machine operators who worked tirelessly to ensure the drive's success.
Infrastructure Boost: Rs 8,941-Crore Investment
While the surface cleanup was a victory, the government is now eyeing the root causes of pollution. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit on October 22 to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for 43 Delhi Jal Board projects with a total valuation of Rs 8,941.22 crore.
Breaking Down the Projects:
The investment is split between immediate inaugurations and future developments:
- Inaugurations: 10 projects worth Rs 2,827.11 crore.
- Foundation Stones: 33 projects worth Rs 6,114.11 crore.
Among the standout initiatives is a new 124 MGD sewage treatment plant (STP) at Okhla costing Rs 1,161 crore. Additionally, eight existing STPs will be upgraded to boost their combined capacity from 78.2 MGD to 140.8 MGD. The plan also includes 29 decentralized STPs and sewage pumping stations in outer Delhi, a 1,034-km sewer network, a 477 MLD water treatment plant at Chandrawal, and a 4.5-km trunk drain in Mundka.
Beyond Cleaning: A New Way to Connect with Yamuna
Minister Singh emphasized that cleaning the ghats is only the first step; the long-term restoration of the Yamuna depends on preventing untreated sewage from entering the water. To foster a deeper emotional connection between the citizens and the river, the Minister announced a unique 'Birthday with Yamuna' initiative.
Under this program, huts will be constructed along the riverbanks, allowing people to celebrate their birthdays in the serenity of nature. Leading by example, Minister Singh announced that he plans to celebrate his own birthday on November 7 as part of this initiative, vowing that the campaign to save the Yamuna will continue long after the initial drive.