No lessons learnt; Delhiites queue up to throw waste into Yamuna
4 Oct 2014 6:02 AM IST
The citizens of Delhi seemed to have ignored the much publicised campaign to clean India in next five years. Only one day has passed when the entire nation took pledge for Clean India with PM Narendra Modi and people were lined up on Yamuna Bridge in Delhi to throw religious waste into the river.
The commuters stopped their vehicles on the busy bridge only to throw their plastic bags into Yamuna River. It is also important to mention that stopping the vehicle on the Yamuna Bridge is ‘strictly’ prohibited due to high speed of vehicles on DND Flyway. But cars queued up on the flyway without any interruption with the security personnel present there.
Interestingly, a board reading ‘Save Yamuna, Clean Delhi’, can also be seen in the background while a boy prepares to throw his bag.
‘We are not throwing polythene bags, it’s only religious samagri,’ argued a man while getting out
from his car.
As per the rule, a person throwing religious waste or debris in the Yamuna River could be imprisoned for three months and fine of Rs 25,000. But the civic bodies in the city have hardly deployed their men to fine the culprits.
‘It’s a welcome step. It is for the first time that a Prime Minister has shown political will for cleanliness and sanitation. But only campaigning will not work. Strict implementation of the rules and discipline are required to inculcate values of sanitation among citizens,’ said Manoj Mishra, an eminent environment activist and founder of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan.
‘The Swachh Bharat Mission must include preservation of water bodies and rivers,’ he added. Mishra futher contended that ‘The amount of religious waste being immersed in the river is increasing by the day. But government agencies have completely neglected the issue.’
The Delhi government in 2006 had submitted in the Delhi High court to construct at least 13 water enclosures for idol immersion for Durga Puja and other celebrations. As per the plan, firstly, biodegradable material of the idols and religious material should be sorted out before immersion in those designated enclosures to be constructed on river bed.
Secondly, biodegradable material should be immersed in the water and converted to compost and finally the water should be treated before discharging in the river.
The commuters stopped their vehicles on the busy bridge only to throw their plastic bags into Yamuna River. It is also important to mention that stopping the vehicle on the Yamuna Bridge is ‘strictly’ prohibited due to high speed of vehicles on DND Flyway. But cars queued up on the flyway without any interruption with the security personnel present there.
Interestingly, a board reading ‘Save Yamuna, Clean Delhi’, can also be seen in the background while a boy prepares to throw his bag.
‘We are not throwing polythene bags, it’s only religious samagri,’ argued a man while getting out
from his car.
As per the rule, a person throwing religious waste or debris in the Yamuna River could be imprisoned for three months and fine of Rs 25,000. But the civic bodies in the city have hardly deployed their men to fine the culprits.
‘It’s a welcome step. It is for the first time that a Prime Minister has shown political will for cleanliness and sanitation. But only campaigning will not work. Strict implementation of the rules and discipline are required to inculcate values of sanitation among citizens,’ said Manoj Mishra, an eminent environment activist and founder of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan.
‘The Swachh Bharat Mission must include preservation of water bodies and rivers,’ he added. Mishra futher contended that ‘The amount of religious waste being immersed in the river is increasing by the day. But government agencies have completely neglected the issue.’
The Delhi government in 2006 had submitted in the Delhi High court to construct at least 13 water enclosures for idol immersion for Durga Puja and other celebrations. As per the plan, firstly, biodegradable material of the idols and religious material should be sorted out before immersion in those designated enclosures to be constructed on river bed.
Secondly, biodegradable material should be immersed in the water and converted to compost and finally the water should be treated before discharging in the river.
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