The centre has struck to its 2005 deadline to clean the polluted Yamuna river, despite strong remarks from the supreme court on such a long time frame fixed for cleaning the life line of the national capital. A bench headed by Justice B N Kirpal had asked the centre on August 4 to explain as to why despite orders having been passed regarding the cleaning of Yamuna since a number of years, the said river, regarded as holy by many, will continue to be polluted at least till 2005.
Going by the present pace of construction of the 14 sewage treatment plants by the Delhi government, it will take at least five years to complete the additional capacity provided both land and funds are available for these works. Referring to deliberations by high powered committee constituted by National River Conservation Authority (NRCA) chaired by the prime minister, the ministry said The committee has reiterated that year 2005 may be treated as the cut off point for cleaning of Yamuna in Delhi.
The deadline of 2005 was set by the committee after it assessed the quantum of work involved in restoring the water quality of Yamuna.
Bureau Report