Delhi’s Water Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj hit out at Delhi LG for taking credit for the improvement of River Yamuna’s pollution levels without taking any accountability. In a statement, Bharadwaj criticized the LG and said that all the accountability and answerability lies with the Arvind Kejriwal government, not the LG.
Bharadwaj further explained that reference parameters for sewage treatment plant functioning were changed nationwide recently, and states, including Delhi, have started rehabilitating their STPs accordingly. He emphasized that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been at the forefront of these efforts and has awarded contracts to professional firms for the rehabilitation of 11 STPs, aiming to upgrade them to the latest parameters of BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and TSS (Total Suspended Solids) of less than 10 milligrams per liter.
The statement released by Bharadwaj’s office revealed that Delhi was taking measures to improve the water quality of River Yamuna. The Delhi government has launched several initiatives to purify the river, including the ‘Mukhyamantri Septic Tank Safai Yojana’ and the Yamuna Action Plan III. The Delhi government has also installed 40 real-time water-quality monitoring systems at various locations on the river, which provide data on water quality at any given time.
The improvements in the water quality of River Yamuna have been attributed to the Delhi government’s efforts, and Bharadwaj urged LG to refrain from taking credit for the same. He emphasized that the Delhi government’s actions have been instrumental in improving the water quality of the river.
In conclusion, it is essential to note that taking credit and accountability for environmental efforts is vital to encourage and propel further action. It is necessary to safeguard the river’s health and prevent further damage, given its importance in the country.
