New Delhi: The Delhi government has proposed to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in association with the Centre, on the lines of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), in a bid to clean and rejuvenate the Yamuna. The name SPV is given to an entity which is formed for a single, well-defined and narrow purpose.
The suggestion was made by Delhi urban development minister Satyendar Jain during the NCR Planning Board meeting on pollution chaired by Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday.
Mr Jain has proposed 50-50 per cent partnership between the Centre and Delhi government in setting up of SPV to oversee cleaning of the river and its other development activities. “This is the only solution (setting up of SPV) to clean Yamuna. We can clean the river in next two or three years if SPV is set up by both Centre and Delhi government on the line of DMRC,” the minister said.
Mr Jain said that there are multiple agencies which are currently involved in the cleaning up of Yamuna river due to which we have not able to clean it for the last 15 years. “I have suggested the Union minister to set up an SPV in this regard. If the SPV is set up in partnership with the Centre, the role of multiple agencies involved in cleaning up of the river will come to an end and Yamuna will be cleaned,” he said.
In March this year, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had met Union water resources minister Uma Bharti and both the leaders had agreed to set up Special Purpose Vehicle to clean Yamuna river.
Apart from this, an IIT report on pollution has recommended controlling dust through vacuum cleaning.
“I raised both the issues in meeting and the Union Minister assured us to look into into,” Mr Jain said, adding he also highlighted the delay in completion of three Urban Extension Roads being constructed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
“There has already been a delay in completing these roads built in Outer Delhi. DDA has been constructing them for 15 years, but it is yet to complete them. I have requested the Union Urban Development Minister to direct the agency to construct it as soon as possible so that there is no traffic congestion in Delhi,” he said.
The Delhi government has also requested the Centre to construct Eastern and Western peripheral expressways at the earliest so that non-destined vehicles do not enter the city.
