UP minister urges Centre to keep Yamuna clean

Subhash Mishra | TNN | Apr 14, 2020, 09:04 IST

Yamuna river

LUCKNOW: Highlighting a noticeable reduction in the Yamuna’s pollution levels during the 2-day lockdown, energy minister Shrikant Sharma has requested the Centre to ensure that industries discharging their waste into the river be directed to install effluent treatment plants and strictly adhere to norms to keep the river clean.
Sharma, who hails from Mathura situated on the Yamuna banks, has written to Union jal shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, drawing his attention towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment for keeping all rivers clean with the focus on Namami Gange project. The letter, which was dispatched by Sharma to the Centre on Tuesday, stated that experts of environment research institutions have submitted their reports to the government claiming marked improvement in the water quality of the Yamuna during the lockdown period.

In his letter, the UP minister has further stated that there is a marked reduction in the industrial pollution in the Yamuna river due to the nationwide lockdown. As there is less discharge of effluents into the river the aquatic life, too, has improved, he said adding that it also indicates that despite repeated reminders industries discharging waste into the river have not set up treatment plants at their units. This is a serious issue and needs the government's attention, he said.