'In 2023, Delhi faced flood as floodgates were closed': 1,300 tonnes of garbage removed from Yamuna in past 10 days, says minister Parvesh Verma

NEW DELHI: Delhi minister of Irrigation and Flood Control Parvesh Verma conducted a boat inspection of the Yamuna on Wednesday and disclosed that 1,300 tonnes of refuse had been extracted from the waterway during the preceding ten days.
The river's purification was amongst the principal commitments pledged by the BJP during the recently-concluded Delhi assembly elections.

"In 2023, Delhi faced a flood. Previously, all the floodgates were closed, but now they have been repaired and raised to prevent future flooding," Verma said.
"Our biggest commitment is to completely clean and restore the Yamuna. As of now, 1,300 metric tonnes of garbage have been removed in the last 10 days. The Delhi Development Authority will restore the riverbed and encroachments are being removed," the minister said.
He also stated that sewage treatment plants (STPs) will be installed for the 18 major drains that release effluents into the river.
"Complaints will be addressed, new STPs will be set up and the capacity of existing ones will be increased. All STPs are expected to be installed within two years," Verma said.
He asserted that over the past decade, no significant efforts had been made to clean the river, "not even on paper."
"It never even occurred to the previous government to work for the Yamuna. But now, not only the Delhi government but the PMO itself is involved," Verma added.