Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announces pilot project for water reservation in Yamuna floodplains

Amid scorching heat and depleting ground water level in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced the approval of an ambitious water conservation project in the River Yamuna and said that he wants to "end the water shortage".

"We keep reading the world is heading towards a serious water crisis, reports about water shortage in different parts of the country, depleting water table in Delhi. Keeping all this in mind, the government has cleared an ambitious project for water conservation in the Yamuna floodplains," said Kejriwal announcing the decision.

The Delhi cabinet in a meeting on Tuesday, chaired by the Chief Minister, approved the ambitious project for water conservation in the River Yamuna floodplains. The Chief Minister said the government also intends to initiate the ground water recharging this monsoon itself, but this time it will be on an experimental basis.

"The result of the pilot project will help us form a clear idea about the success of this project. Since River Yamuna has a vast floodplain and it has big potential for water conservation and through this project, we can solve the water shortage of Delhi," Kejriwal said.

"Water will be conserved in stretches from Palla till Wazirabad on a completely eco-friendly basis and no construction or use of cement will be involved and regular flow of Yamuna will not be disrupted," an official statement said.

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Small ponds will be constructed near the river so it fills them when the river overflows during the monsoon. Water will then percolate down and it will spread leading to an increase in the water table of these areas.

After the Cabinet decision, the Delhi government will require the concurrence of some Central government agencies, about which the Union Jal Shakti Minister Mr Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was informed in a recent meeting.

"The Centre appears positive about this project and the Delhi government has requested that given the fact the Monsoon is approaching the concurrences to be expedited," the statement added.

The land belonging to farmers will be used in the project. Delhi government has formed a five-member committee to negotiate to rent with the involved parties.

The groundwater level has been depleting in the city. However, several studies had concluded that the stretch of Yamuna flood plain has a "high recharge potential".

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