Letter to PM (River Health Index- 07 Jan. 2010)

To,


Dr Manmohan Singh,
Hon’ble Prime Minister
Government of IndiaNew Delhi

Respected Sir,

Greetings for a HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2010 from Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan!

It is our fond hope that the steps initiated by the UPA government under your leadership for the revival of river Ganga in the last year, would fructify soon so that the other rivers in the country also benefit from the Ganga experience.

In this context allow us to recall that your honour had constituted on 24th August 2007 a high powered committee called the Yamuna River Development Authority (YRDA) under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Lt Governor of Delhi with a well defined mandate and a 3 monthly reporting schedule.

We at Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, campaigning for the revival of the river Yamuna since early 2007, have with interest tried to follow the progress of the said high powered committee.

While we note with respect and appreciation that soon after taking up the charge of the Committee and holding of a number of its meetings, the Hon’ble Lt Governor found it appropriate to declare a moratorium (as an intent) on any new construction in the river bed / flood plain in Delhi (and has kept to it) but the fact remains that the said moratorium is no more than the honest word of a high level authority with little guarantee of it being kept, if for whatever reason and sooner or later, the present incumbent demits his office. We have not come across any official communication or order, other than through word of mouth, as reported in the media that confirms the said moratorium.

In any case, the fact remains that your honour had constituted the said high powered Committee as an interim measure till the said Committee in accordance with point e) of its terms of reference (TOR) came up with a suggested design for a statutory framework, which takes forward the policy framework and an integrated plan for the river which addresses issues of both quantity in terms of river flow and quality in the Yamuna river. The said policy framework as well as the integrated plan for the river was to be devised by the Yamuna River Development Authority (YRDA). The only thing that one has heard for the river for quite some time is the much advertised Sewage Interceptor Scheme of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), which experts like the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) have adversely critiqued on several grounds. But even this scheme, if and when successful, would only be able to address the quality aspect of the river and the paramount issue of quantity in terms of river flow would remain unaddressed.

For us at the YJA it is a measure of grave concern that even after almost two and a half years of the constitution of the said high powered Committee there is nothing in the public domain in the nature of either any policy framework; an integrated plan for the river or the suggested design for a statutory framework, in the absence of which while the river’s interest continues to suffer there are activities (impacting both the flow in the river and the river’s flood plain) taking place or planned both upstream and downstream of Delhi in Haryana and in UP which would compromise the future of the river for all times to come. The recent construction plans in the river bed along the river between NOIDA and Agra as well as in Agra and in Vrindavan (being vehemently opposed by local groups) and water abstraction plans upstream in Haryana are but few examples of what is in store for the already beleaguered river. Thus it may later be too late for any remedial action/s for the river to be initiated or successfully implemented.

We believe that it is time that on the lines of river Ganga, a River Basin Authority for the revival of river Yamuna is also created so that the urgent issues concerning the life-line river Yamuna are also taken up in an integrated manner and on a priority basis.

We at the YJA hope that your honour would find time from your busy schedule to attend to this humble yet urgent appeal from us.

Warm regards,

Manoj Misra

Convenor
Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan