Clean the Yamuna: Task Force Urges Delhi to Unite for River's Survival
The Yamuna Task Force and Delhi leaders urge citizens to join efforts to clean the river, as BJP leaders criticize previous administration's failures.
The battle to clean the Yamuna has moved beyond government mandates and official task forces, with authorities now issuing a passionate plea for the citizens of Delhi to take ownership of the river's health. Subedar Ratan Singh of the Yamuna Task Force has emphasized that no single organization, regardless of its resources, can restore the river alone; it requires a collective movement from every resident of the capital.
A Call for Public Consciousness
Speaking on the ongoing efforts to revive the river, Subedar Ratan Singh highlighted the daily grind of cleanup operations. The task force currently collaborates with various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across the city to remove waste and pollutants from the waterway.
However, Singh believes that physical cleaning is only half the battle. The task force is aggressively pursuing awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, marketplaces, and residential neighborhoods to change the public's mindset.
"We need to ask ourselves: what kind of Yamuna do we want to leave for future generations, a polluted, filthy river, or one that flows clean and clear?" Singh questioned.
He urged Delhiites to view the river with the same respect they accord to their own homes. Comparing the reverence for "Mother Yamuna" to the way people maintain their personal surroundings, he stressed that the river's survival depends on the active participation of the entire city.
Political Heavyweights Join the Drive
The urgency of the situation was mirrored by a series of high-profile cleanliness drives across various points of the river on Sunday. Several prominent leaders participated in the initiative to signal government commitment and encourage public involvement.
- Harsh Malhotra: The Delhi BJP president joined the drive at Gandhi Nagar Pushta in Yamuna Khadar.
- Rekha Gupta: The Delhi Chief Minister participated in the cleanup at Haathi Ghat near ITO.
- Parvesh Verma: The Delhi PWD Minister also joined the efforts at Haathi Ghat.
- Manjinder Singh Sirsa: The Delhi Minister was seen participating in the drive at the Old Railway Bridge.
- Bansuri Swaraj: The BJP MP took part in the cleaning activities at Ram Ghat.
Political Clash Over Past Failures
While the current drive focused on action, it also sparked a political confrontation. Harsh Malhotra lauded the current administration under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, stating that a comprehensive plan to clean the river is now being actively implemented.
Malhotra launched a scathing attack on the previous government led by Arvind Kejriwal, accusing them of using the river's pollution for political gain rather than solving the problem. He claimed that the Kejriwal administration engaged in "political posturing" and spread falsehoods, eventually being forced to apologize for their failure to deliver results.
Adding a financial dimension to the critique, Malhotra alleged that the Modi-led central government had allocated approximately ₹2,900 crore to the previous administration specifically for the purpose of cleaning the Yamuna, funds which he claims were not utilized for their intended purpose.
As the city continues its cleanup operations, the goal remains clear: combining government infrastructure and funding with a massive wave of public participation to ensure the Yamuna flows clean once again.