(a) whether a High-Powered Committee set up in 2007 has recommended setting up of the
Yamuna River Development Authority on the lines of the Ganga Authority for rejuvenating the
river Yamuna;
(b) if so, the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) the details of recommendations accepted by the Union Government for rejuvenation of
Yamuna river; and
(d) the progress made so far in cleansing the river Yamuna in each State where it passes?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) to (c) The High Powered Committee for Yamuna River Development has submitted its report
to the Government of India suggesting an operational plan for rejuvenation of Delhi stretch
of the river. A two tier statutory framework consisting of a National River Authority and
a State River Basin Development Authority has been recommended. A view on the recommendations
of this committee is yet to be taken.
(d) To supplement the efforts of State Governments in addressing the problem of pollution
of river Yamuna, Government of India is implementing Yamuna Action Plan(YAP) with assistance
from Japan International Cooperation Agency, Government of Japan in a phase manner. The works
taken up under YAP include interception and diversion of raw sewage, setting up of sewage
treatment plants, creation of low cost sanitation facilities, setting up of electric/improved
wood crematoria and river front development. A total of 276 schemes including 38 sewage
treatment plants have been completed in 21 towns of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi and
753.25 million litres per day of sewage treatment capacity has been created of which 401.25
mld in Uttar Pradesh, 322 mld in Haryana and 30 mld in Delhi.
To ensure that only treated effluent is discharged to the river Yamuna in its Delhi stretch,
which contributes maximum pollution load to the river, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has prepared
schemes for laying of interceptor sewers along three major drains namely Najafgarh, Shahdara
and Supplementary, augmentation of sewage treatment capacity, interception of drains,
rehabilitation of trunk sewers, laying of sewerage system in unsewered colonies and rural
areas and desilting of peripheral/internal sewers. The interceptor sewer project has been
approved by CCEA under JNNURM at a cost of Rs. 1357 crore.