Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma on Monday announced that the Yamuna River will be clean and free-flowing within the next three years. He said the Delhi Government is working on a large scale to ensure this, with full support from the Centre. He was attending the two-day Yamunotsav 2025, a public awareness programme organised by the Delhi Government and NGO Yamuna Sansad at Vasudev Ghat.
“This promise is not just a claim,” he said. “It is backed by faith and commitment; we have the full budget support from the central Government and the strong leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Officers are working day and night. Every Delhiite’s dream of a clean Yamuna will soon become reality,” he added.
Taking a swipe at the Opposition, Verma said, “Arvind Kejriwal failed to do what we are doing now. He wonders how this Government is achieving what he could not. When the issues he used to politicise are resolved one by one, his politics will end.”
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, who also participated in the event, said that the BJP came to power in Delhi due to “the blessing of Yamuna”.
“It is Yamuna Maa’s blessing that we are in power today,” he said. “The Delhi Government is working with seriousness and sincerity. In just eight months, results are visible this year; devotees could take a holy dip during Chhath Puja,” he added.
Sachdeva said the Government is committed to making the Yamuna both aviral (free-flowing) and nirmal (clean). He added that the discussions at the ongoing Yamuna Conclave would help guide further policy decisions.
On the second day of Yamunotsav, scientists and environmental experts discussed the pollution crisis and possible solutions during the Yamuna Conclave. Speakers agreed that the Yamuna no longer provides ecological services to Delhi due to severe pollution and the loss of its natural flow. “The key is to restore environmental flow; without that, no amount of cleaning will last,” experts said. Sessions covered the river’s history, present condition, and scientific interventions. Among the speakers were Delhi University professor Radheshyam Sharma, environmentalist Dr Faiyaz Khudsar, researcher Debadityo Sinha, water conservationist Sanjay Singh, and others.
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Amritanand Dev Tirth also attended the conclave. He said that modern science is only now acknowledging what Indian scriptures taught centuries ago. Citing the Nobel Prize-winning research on the benefits of fasting, he said, “Our traditions already held this knowledge. Cleaning the Yamuna is not only a scientific need but also a moral duty,” he further adds.
The day began with a “water band” performance by 101 Jal Sahelis (water women) from Bundelkhand, who showcased their community model for water revival. Sanjay Singh, national coordinator of the Jal Jan Jodo Abhiyan, said their initiative had successfully revived small rivers, ponds, and wells in Bundelkhand.
Students of Ramjas International School later presented a cultural performance dedicated to the river, drawing loud applause from the audience. Yamuna Parliament convenor Bhikshu Ravishankar Tiwari thanked the Delhi Government, ministers, legislators, and community leaders for their support. “This event will prove to be a milestone in the journey towards a clean and free-flowing Yamuna,” he said.
