THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DELHI
The Lt Governor, Shri VK Saxena today went on an inspection visit of the Nazafgarh drain across its entire 57 KM length. In possibly a first by any LG, starting at Chhawla and Dhansa on Haryana border where the drain originates, Shri Saxena travelled upto Wazirabad in North Delhi where the drain empties into the Yamuna.
Accompanied by the Chief Secretary, Secretary (I&FC), CEO, Delhi Jal Board, Commissioner MCD and other senior officers, the LG made several stops downstream where he got down to inspect the embankments and the plantations thereon, the volume of water in the drain, status of siltation and the desilting/dredging works being undertaken thereof, sewer being treated at STPs along the drain, physical inspection of the supplementary drain and the mouth of the drain.
Stopping at Nazafgarh Jheel, Pappan Kalan, Moti Nagar- Sudarshan Park, Outer Ring road opposite Burari, besides many a location across the 57 km drain, Shri Saxena emphasized upon the need to plant flowering varities of trees instead of Kikar on the embankments, removal of hyacinth that hinders the flow of the drain, thorough and complete desiltation/dredging to increase the water holding capacity and increasing the STP capacities in the Capital.
He stressed that such efforts will not only help develop the entire stretch into a self sustaining eco-tourism destination replete with rich bio-diversity and ensure that only treated sewage is discharged into the Yamuna, but also address the issue of water conservation through ground water recharge and water logging by increasing the holding capacity of the drain.
Combined and coordinated efforts by different agencies/departments involved, comprehensive planning based on expert advise and exemplary cases and a non partisan commitment by all to the cause of making Delhi- the National Capital, acquire its rightful place on the high table of world class cities, will help convert the City's hitherto derided and undesirable features like waste mounds and polluted drains into assets, the LG underlined.
The LG said that a meeting will be convened during the next week with the Chief Minister and concerned Ministers and officers to chalk out a concrete and time bound plan of action detailing coordinated efforts towards developing the Nazafgarh drain into a favored Eco tourism destination and a meaningful means to address the issues of water conservation and water logging on a long term and sustainable manner.