Govt’s decision to build two new dams will rejuvenate river Yamuna: Jal shakti minister. (2021, December 19). Retrieved February 05, 2022, from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/govts-decision-to-build-two-new-dams-will-rejuvenate-river-yamuna-jal-shakti-minister/articleshow/88371822.cms
In mid-December, the government decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which under the 90 per cent grant has been given to three national projects to built two new dams in an effort to rejuvenate the polluted river of Yamuna. The creation of these dams is essential for restoring the Renukaji and Uttarakhand water supply and helping bring back a healthier ecosystem. For example, Ganga is required to discharge a certain amount of water during non-monsoon seasons to provide enough fresh water for the areas surrounding the river. Similarly, if we require water flow in the Yamuna too, freshwater will not only be more accessible, but it will also improve the water quality of the river. The main cause of the pollution in the River Yamuna is industrial effluents and sewage that has been discharged into the river by Delhi. There are varying political views regarding who is accountable for the river’s pollution, however, all nations agree that it is their responsibility to restore the water’s health. One method of doing so was by establishing decentralized sewage treatment plants in Chattarpur to help clear the pollution, however, several years later and there have been no steps made towards that plan. Fortunately, awareness of the issue has increased among those affected which has encouraged Jal Shakti Abhiyan to invest Rs 56,000 crore to groundwater-related activities. With this money, the nation has started aquifer mapping while using Australian technology, which is more efficient than the technology they were previously using.
I think that creating more projects like these will satisfy both the environmentalists, who want to keep the river clean and protect the species still living with the dam, and the people who are less concerned about the lake, yet still want to keep it clean for drinking water. Adding these dams will not only satisfy the water demand, but it will also cause the cleaning process of the Yamuna to be easier and faster. Many countries have shown effort towards keeping their river and their ecosystem clean, and I think that this example should be followed by other nations whose rivers have been polluted by human wastes.
I thought this article was interesting because I did not know about this government program in India. This causes me to ask if the US should take anything from this rejuvenation that pleases environmentalists and locals of nearby rivers?
This certainly seems like something that should be implemented in America. The decentralized sewage plants are a good way to help manage increasing levels of human waste.