Yamuna Action Plan – II: An Overview

The Yamuna is considered as one of the most sacred rivers in India. According to the legends, Yamuna is the daughter of Surya, the Sun God, and sister to Yama, the God of Death. Consequently, popular belief is that those who take a dip in its holy waters are not tormented by fears of death.

Arising from the source, river Yamuna flows through a series of valleys for about 200 Kms, in lower Himalayas and emerges into Indo-Gangetic plains. In the upper reaches, the main valley is overlooked by numerous hanging valleys, carved by glaciers during the last ice ages. The gradient of the river is steep here and the entire geomorphology of the valley has been influenced by the passage of the river. In the upper stretch of 200 Km, it draws water from several major streams. The combined stream flows through the Shivalik range of hills of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal states of India and enters into plains at Dak Pathar in Uttranchal where the river water is regulated through weir and diverted into canal for power generation. From Dak Pathar it flows through the famous Sikh religious place of Poanta Sahib. On the right side of the Yamuna basin is the Mussourie spur-along, which, lies sprawled, the hill station of Mussourie. Flowing through Poanta Sahib it reaches Hathnikund/ Tajewala in Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana state, where the river water is again diverted into Western Yamuna canal and Eastern Yamuna canal for irrigation. During dry season, no water is allowed to flow in the river downstream to Tajewala barrage and the river remains dry in some stretches between Tajewala & Delhi. The river regains water because of ground water accrual and contributions of feeding canal through Som nadi (seasonal stream) upstream of Kalanaur. It enters Delhi near Palla village after traversing a route of about 224 Km.

Yamuna is lifeline of Delhi quenching over 70 % Delhites thirst. Due to urbanization, industrialization and over exploitation by human beings Yamuna is become a drain now.

The river is dying!!!

National River Conservation Directorate, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India with assistance from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has successfully implemented Yamuna Action Plan, Phase-I. The YAP-I was designed with many engineering works with non-engineering components. Number sewage treatment plants, Electric Crematoria, Community Toilet Complexes etc were constructed during YAP- I. How Ever due several factors we were unable to achieve desired level of improvement in water quality and quality of River Yamuna.

With all the learning and experiences from YAP-I, National River Conservation Directorate, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India with assistance from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has launched YAP-II. During YAP-II, activities will be accomplished to create huge awareness among people and also their participation to save the river Yamuna. It is also expected that the YAP-II will act as the preparatory stage for YAP-III

It was learnt during YAP-I that Public Participation and Awareness (PP & A) is a key factor for any project to be successful and for sustainability. Hence in YAP-II, a greater emphasis has been paid on public participation and awareness as it was experienced and learnt that without public participation and awareness, regaining dignity of Yamuna is not possible.

To achieve the objectives of the YAP- II, 3 types of programmes were designed and are being implemented in different cities of various states like Agra in Uttar Pradesh, Faridabad, Yamuna Nagar, Karnal, Panipath, Sonipath etc in Haryana, and Delhi the Country capital of India. Following are the three programmes those are being implemented under the Public Participation and Awareness (PP & A) Component of YAP-II.

1. Socio-Economic and Environmental Up-gradation of CTC Neighbourhood Community Programme
2. School Health & Hygiene Programme
3. Region Specific Innovative Programme

“The Socio-economic and Environmental Up-gradation of CTC Neighborhood Community Programme” is for developing integrated community development intervention with focus on Socio-Economic and Environmental up-gradation through community participation, aware and sensitize community people, increase community acceptance and optimum utilization of CTCs and other sanitation facilities, improve socio-economic status of community etc. to create a “Zero Pollution Zone” around CTCs and Neighborhood Community.

“The School Health & Hygiene Programme” is to Sensitized school community of the target region on Health, Hygiene & Sanitation issues, practices etc. thereby achieving maximum participation and sustainability of the programme efforts in Schools.

“Region Specific Innovative Programme” is a programme where the goal and objectives of YAP-II will be achieved by organizing different innovative activities.

I E S in YAP-II Programme

The Society is being working in different programmes of Yamuna Action Plan – II. Following are the projects of the Society, implemented under the PP & A component of YAP-II.

1. Socio-Economic and Environmental Up-gradation of CTC Neighbourhood Community of NIT- Faridabad.
   Implemented from: 1st October 2006
   Implemented By: Indian Environmental Society
   Supported By: Water & Sanitation Division, Faridabad
2. School Health & Hygiene programme in Region –I (Rohini, Narela & Civil Line)
   Implemented from:
   Implemented By: Indian Environmental Society
   Supported By: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
3. School Health & Hygiene programme in Region- II ( Sahadra- South, Sahadra- North and City)
   Implemented from:
   Implemented By: Indian Environmental Society
   Supported By: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)