Mishra meets Punjab-based Baba to revive Yamuna

The Delhi government has sought the assistance and cooperation of Punjab-based river conservationist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal in the revival plan of Yamuna river in the city. Delhi Water Minister and Chairperson of Delhi Jal Board Kapil Mishra on Monday met Seechewal along with senior officers of DJB in his village and discussed the Yamuna river revival and development plan with him.

“We have presented our plan to Baba to clean Yamuna, which incorporates almost all the ideas that he has used, including decentralised wastewater treatment, oxidation of ponds and maintenance of river flow. We will ensure that Yamuna is cleaned on a war footing and will ensure that the Seechewal’s model of river cleaning is implemented in Delhi,” said Kapil Mishra. Seechewal is known for his efforts to resurrect the 110-mile Kali Bein rivulet in Punjab by combining his philosophy of self-help with the environmental essence of the Gurbani. 

The team from DJB visited various sites operated and maintained by Baba Seechewal to treat wastewater and sewage, which used eco-friendly and natural processes, thus reducing the financial and environmental cost of cleaning the river. The DJB studied the decentralised natural treatment system, oxidation of ponds, settling tanks and processes used to remove floating material from the Kali Bein rivulet. Another key insight was the maintenance of flow through the river which ensured quick self-purification of the river. The DJB team found that many of the processes and techniques used in Seechewal found a prominent place in the government’s plan to clean Yamuna.

The minister also informed that Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal appreciated the plans of the DJB to clean Yamuna and said: “The River Yamuna desperately requires an overhaul and I am very happy to know that many of the natural processes and techniques that we have used find their way in Delhi government’s plan for Yamuna.”