Above picture: Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Baba Jai Krishna Dasji, Pankaj Babaji and others meeting with Minister of Water Resources Shri Harish Rawatji and Minister of Environment Smt. Jayanti Natarajanji.
For three days, high level meetings took place with the Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Environment, pad yatris from Vrinadavan/Braj area, representatives of the union of farmers and other concerned parties over the dire situation with the Yamuna river. The meetings and discussions made a way forward as historic agreements were reached regarding Yamuna.
The two-day discussions have been attended, in main, by Shri Harish Rawat, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, Baba Jai Krishna Das, National President of Yamuna Rakshak Dal, Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh, President of Bharati Kisan Union, Narayan Swami, Radhajivan Poddar, Harish Thenua, Pankaj Baba, Rakesh Yadav. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh and Founder of Ganga Action Parivar has been present as a mediator for the negotiations.
The Hon’ble Minister of Water Resources has agreed to construct canals on both sides of the Yamuna river which will carry the sewage so that it does not enter Yamuna. The sewage will be treated at various sewage treatment plants along the way.
Shri Harish Rawatji assured the protesters that within 2 months the assessment work for the canals would be carried out and that construction will begin as soon as possible. He also assured that he would do whatever is in his capacity as Minister and working alongside with the Ministry of Environmental Affairs to ensure that a significant percentage of Yamuna water remains flowing “aviral” in the Yamuna riverbed rather than being diverted. He effusively appreciated the role of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji as mediator, with clarity and vision for ways to solve problem that are acceptable to all sides. He also appreciated Pujya Swamiji’s tireless and complete dedication to Ganga and Yamuna.
Baba Krishna Dasji, leader of the Yamuna Rakshak Dal, appreciated the sincerity and cooperation of the government and particularly Shri Harish Rawatji, in agreeing to move forward in the demands of the protesters. He also offered his respects and pranam to Shri Ramesh Babaji, through whose inspiration, leadership and guidance the entire Yamuna protest has taken place.
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji said “Shri Harish Rawatji has truly shown great leadership, great vision and great mission not only for Yamuna but for all the rivers of this nation. Water is life and therefore the protection and preservation of our rivers is of crucial importance. “ He also made the following specific suggestions:
A Yamuna Rivers Commission, should be established, similar to the NGRBA but with additional statutory powers. It should also include members and experts from civil society as well, and it should meet on a very regular basis so as to ensure its effectiveness.
A National Rivers Act should be enacted for all of the rivers of India. If the tributaries entering Ganga and Yamuna are full of waste, then there is no way that Ganga and Yamuna themselves will be able to be clean.
The Environmental Protection Act of 1974 and the Water Act of 1986 should be emboldened and enforced under which all of the natural environment will be covered and protected.
Today the official agreement was signed also by Smt. Jayanti Natarajanji.
The agreement establishes that master drains will be constructed, carrying sewage to sewage treatment facilities so that the drains do not empty into Yamuna. A committee has been constructed to oversee this which will also include 2 representatives of the Yamuna padyatries. The Ministry of Environment will fund the construction of this. The treated grey water will be used for agriculture.
The project is expected to be laid out in the next two months and completed in an fast-track manner.
Further, requests have been made by Shri Harish Rawatji to the Chief Minister of Haryana to release water from Hathikund and to the Chief Minister of UP to release water from Okhla Barrage. The exact amount of water they will be able to release is still awaited.
Although a historical first step, further talks and protest is expected to continue by activists until a more comprehensive and holistic solution is implemented for the river’s long-term health.
