Massive 'Chalo Yamuna' Drive: 35,000 Volunteers Scrub 70 Ghats; Rs 8,941 Crore Water Projects Incoming
Over 35,000 people removed 76 tonnes of waste in the Chalo Yamuna drive. Amit Shah will launch water projects worth Rs 8,941 crore on Oct 22.
In a staggering display of civic duty, more than 35,000 people descended upon the banks of the Yamuna river on October 18 as part of the Chalo Yamuna campaign. In a single morning of intense labor, the volunteers managed to clean 70 different locations along the river, hauling away a massive 76,755 kg of waste. Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh shared these details on Monday, framing the event as the start of a sustained public movement to reclaim the river.
A People's Movement: Who Joined the Fight?
The scale of the cleanup was reflected in the diversity of the participants. The drive saw a massive turnout from various sections of society, including:
- 20,000 citizens, including families and Resident Welfare Association (RWA) members.
- 10,500 party workers.
- 2,500 students, with significant representation from over 25 Delhi University colleges, including more than 400 students from Deshbandhu College.
- 2,000 NGO volunteers.
The operation spanned a vast stretch of the river, starting from Soor Ghat in Wazirabad and the Signature Bridge, extending through Yamuna Bazar, ITO, Nizamuddin, Sarai Kale Khan, and ending at Chilla.
Heavy Machinery and Inter-Departmental Synergy
Cleaning a river of this scale required more than just manual labor. The administration deployed a formidable fleet of machinery to tackle the grime and sludge, including 26 JCBs, 19 tractor-trolleys, 24 boats, seven weed harvesters and trash skimmers, and 269 PWD maintenance vans.
The effort was a coordinated strike involving more than 10 government departments, including the I&FC, PWD, MCD, DJB, DUSIB, Delhi Police, and the DDMA. The impact was most visible in areas like Usmanpur village, where seven tonnes of waste were collected, and Sonia Vihar, where over 5.6 tonnes were removed.
Amit Shah to Launch Mega Water Infrastructure on October 22
While the cleanup focused on the surface, the government is preparing a massive underground overhaul. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Delhi on October 22 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for 43 Delhi Jal Board projects with a combined valuation of Rs 8,941.22 crore.
Breaking Down the Rs 8,941 Crore Package:
The project list is extensive, aiming to modernize Delhi's aging water and sewage infrastructure:
- Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs): A new 124 MGD STP at Okhla will be built at a cost of Rs 1,161 crore. Additionally, eight existing STPs will be upgraded for Rs 1,041 crore, boosting their combined capacity from 78.2 to 140.8 MGD, benefiting 78.5 lakh residents.
- Decentralized Solutions: To support 358 unauthorized colonies and 113 villages, 29 decentralized STPs and sewage pumping stations will be established at a cost of Rs 3,113.67 crore, serving 36.29 lakh people.
- Network Expansion: A 1,034-km sewer network will be laid for Rs 1,691 crore, and a 4.5-km Mundka trunk drain will be constructed for Rs 225.02 crore.
- Water Treatment: A 477 MLD water treatment plant at Chandrawal, costing Rs 298.3 crore, will replace facilities dating back to 1935 and 1955, providing clean water to 22 lakh people.
Out of the total package, 10 projects worth Rs 2,827.11 crore will be formally inaugurated, while foundation stones will be laid for the remaining 33 projects worth Rs 6,114.11 crore.
Beyond the Banks: A New Vision for the Yamuna
Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh emphasized that while cleaning the banks is important, the real victory lies in stopping sewage from entering the river in the first place. To foster a deeper emotional connection between the citizens and the river, the Minister announced the ‘Birthday with Yamuna’ initiative.
Under this unique scheme, huts will be set up along the riverbank, encouraging Delhiites to celebrate their birthdays in the presence of the river. Leading by example, the Minister announced that he will celebrate his own birthday with the Yamuna on November 7 and has appealed to the public to join him in this celebration of nature.