Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Saket Vijay Jolly on Wednesday accused the Delhi Government of failing to provide the people with adequate water and said that while Rs.1,800 crore have been spent in t

Cleaning The River By 2010 Is A Tall Order, Environmentalists Sceptical Of Govt Claims.

Complex includes a host of features; 4 per cent work already completed

In a major setback to Haryana's request for re-assessing Delhi's demand for water, the Upper Yamuna River Board has not just turned down the appeal but insisted that Haryana stick to the 1996 Supr

The Delhi government is planning to go to the Supreme Court to seek a direction to the Haryana government for releasing adequate water from Tajewala so that the Yamuna reaches an optimum level in the national Capital. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that neighbouring state governments were aware of Delhi's problem. Thousands of people come from various states. There is pressure of civic amenities and water supply of the Capital. Still some times Uttar Pradesh reduces water supply to Sonia Vihar and some times Haryana. Now the government will approach the Supreme Court to get its share of water, she said. Two water treatment plants

This is a message that has both sermons and promises. "Stop polluting the Yamuna now,' it says. We don't have to look far for the target of this admonition. Alongside is a non-descript person washing

The list includes temple, shopping mall, Games Village, road diversions and more Constructions pose a great threat to the city's water security, say activists "Government not adhering to moratorium on further constructions' NEW DELHI: A temple, a shopping mall, a depot, an entire Games Village and now road diversions

While addressing the concluding function of the three-day International River Festival at Bandrabhan in Hoshangabad district today, the Governor stressed the need for conservation of nature and environment for human existence. Underlining the importance of rivers as lifeline of humanity he stressed the need for maximum plantation for their preservation. Expressing regret and displeasure over pollution of great rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and Narmada, the Governor said that development of urban areas should not be at the cost of nature and rivers. Lauding the River Festival the Governor described it as a significant step towards conservation of environment and welfare of humanity. He expressed concern over animosity and terrorism growing in the name of religion and said that the people of India should shun it. They should tread the righteous path shown by sacred books and saints and co-exist peacefully. The Minister for Public Relations Laxmikant Sharma said that the River Festival organised by Narmada Samagra is important for entire country. He stressed the need for proper documentation and compilation of the papers presented by experts during the three-day festival. He said that the Public Relations Department would publish their compilation as a document for future use. The conclusions of the deliberations held by experts during the River Festival were issued in the form of Bandrabhan Declaration. A draft action plan prepared by Narmada Samagra for year 2008-09 was also released on the occasion. The convener of International River Festival and secretary of Narmada Samagra Samiti Anil Dave explained its content. The Bandrabhan Declaration states that every river has her own ground, her own flow-path and her own ethos, which are independent of administrative units. The basis of studies, works and efforts about rivers should, therefore, be river basin. The path of flow of rivers is created by their relentless efforts from time immememorial. An international river bank should be set up to maintain an account of the inflow and outflow of all the rivers. There should be a balance sheet to maintain a vigil on the mobilization and expenditure of the resources for rivers. Also sub-accounts should be maintained for direct and indirect income and expenditure on rivers. It should have complete information of the past and present of rivers and also future ideal shape. There should be a comprehensive thinking on utilization of river waters. Relationship between rivers and people is an important factor. When this love between rivers and people dries up due to oblivion of culture and civilization then a river is reduced to merely a water body. There is need to further cement the bonds of love between the two. Anil Dave informed that an annual action plan for year 2008-09 has been prepared by Narmada Samagra on the basis of Bandrabhan Declaration. It seeks to ensure dense plantation within 200 meter radius of both the banks of Narmada river. Three awards would be given for outstanding works on the rivers in Narmada basin on minor, medium and major levels. The highest award would be given to those working on minor river systems. Under Narmada Samagra Yojana coins of alloy would be provided to the ghats of Narmada river for casting in the river. These coins would comprise 96 percent copper and four percent silver. This would help keep Narmada pollution free. Besides, detergent less soap would be made available to reduce the river pollution level. The next River Festival would be organized in 2010 at the same venue. The president of Narmada Samagra Amritlal Begad delivered the welcome address. The chairman of Pollution Control Board Dr. S.P. Gautam proposed a vote of thanks. Member of Parliament Sartaj Singh; MLA Madhukar Rao Harde; chairman of District Cooperative Bank Yogendra Singh Mandloi; Shiv Choube, former MLA Seetasharan Sharma; officers, public representatives and participants from within and outside the country were present on the occasion.

Some of the Capital's best minds stressed that the citizens of Delhi should utilise the up coming elections by improving the city

The Delhi High Court today reserved its order on the ongoing construction of the Commonwealth Games Village that has been challenged on the grounds that it could harm the ecological system of the Yamuna riverbed. A division bench headed by Justices A.K. Sikri and Rekha Sharma reserved the order after hearing the arguments from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and environmentalists. "We are giving one week's time to all parties in the case to file their affidavits if they want to say anything else in the case,' said the bench.