Dear DM Sir, Act Against Polluters, Not Organize Just Walks...

District authorities in Agra are planning yet another symbolic Yamuna Cleaning on January 11. School kids and all those who claim to be working for Yamuna's restoration of health, plus the NGOs, theatre groups, media organizations, are being roped in to clean some Ghats and march in a procession. It is wonderful initiative but will that be enough? Journalist and social activist Brij Khandelwal from Agra asks…

These well meaning folks have to be reminded that the real problems are political.

Unfortunately the district authorities and the state government departments lack the will and vision to do what should have been done years ago. They have the legal sanction.

And don’t forget that the Yamuna Ghats were demolished at the order of late Sanjay Gandhi. The whole Yamuna Kinara road was forcibly cleared of temples, ghats and community facilities.

The Yamuna Kinara road has not been cleared as yet of transport companies, even after 30 years. The transporters are powerful people and they always manage to bribe away decision makers. In recent months the divisional commissioner has thrice ordered their shifting. Can the district magistrate do that? The Hathi Ghat is being used to park trucks which are washed and all oily waste flows into the river.

Agra's share of Yamuna water has to be fixed. Delhi is taking all the water. Haryana draws large quantities. Even Rajasthan's share is fixed. What about the claim of downstream cities. Why is Okhla barrage, of the UP government, holding back water for Delhi's consumption?

More importantly why are effluents and untreated water being discharged by Delhi into the river. For good 22 kms Yamuna flows into the union territory and picks up all the pollutants and effluents, which people downstream consume.

What is the UP Pollution Control Board doing? How many cases has it filed against polluters? Has the directive of the Supreme Court to shift Dhobies and dairies been implemented? If not why?

How many drains open into the river? How many have been plugged? Last count by the pollution board officials said there were 19 Nullahs opening into the river.

And what is the state of the flood plains? How many unauthorized colonies have come up? What action has been taken against colonizers?

Some specialists have pointed out that the quality of water at the point where Yamuna enters Agra district is better but between Keitham and the Taj Mahal the water quality deteriorates. If that is true, the culprits should be booked for polluting the river. District authorities have to do that under the Prevention of Water Pollution Control Act which is mandatory and clear cut.

Awareness camps and processions are ok at the level of voluntary agencies. But district authorities need to act according to the law and the orders already pending in respect of Yamuna pollution. The Agra Nagar Nigam, the UP Pollution Control Board which has the police powers, and the District Magistrate of Agra along with other agencies must draw up an action programme and book polluters. Shift the transporters. Ask the UP horticulture department to develop and maintain the parks along the bank. The drains must be diverted to the treatment plants. The district magistrate should find out why pumping stations are not working and take immediate action.