India: Officials Discuss Yamuna River Development

The Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari has recently emphasized the need for a systematic public awareness clean-Yamuna campaign involving citizens and students.

Chairing a meeting for rejuvenation of Yamuna River, the Minister said that a sense of involvement and community participation for the development of river front should be inculcated.

Shri Gadkari asked representatives of the Delhi Government who attended the meeting to explore the possibility of constructing navigational barrages in Delhi stretch of Yamuna to augment the flow of the river as suggested by Central Water Commission in one of their earlier reports. The project also entails augmenting the water capacity by recharging the big lakes which are close to the river and connecting/channelizing their flow into the river.

The Delhi Government also has a plan for taking up a pilot project around the “Signature Bridge” presently under construction in the city to improve the water flow in the stretch by dredging and installing an “inflatable rubber weir” to hold back enough water during the lean season to provide 2-3 meters depth for navigation purposes throughout the year.

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Press Release, June 23, 2014