A joint committee is overseeing the efforts to reduce the foam in the Yamuna (File)
New Delhi:
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Thursday accused the Delhi government of spraying toxic chemicals to remove foam from the Yamuna ahead of Chhath Puja.
West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma also challenged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take a dip in the Yamuna and alleged that the AAP chief’s visit to the Ghazipur landfill site was a ploy to divert attention from the issue of pollution in the river.
Kejriwal visited the Ghazipur site on Thursday and said that the upcoming MCD elections would be fought on the issue of waste as he had promised to clean Delhi in five years, if his AAP wins the civic polls.
The MP from Northeast Delhi claimed, “We visited Yamuna to take stock of the pollution situation there.
Last year, photos and videos showing devotees worshiping in the foam-filled Yamuna on Chhath Puja triggered a political tussle between the AAP and the BJP, prompting the Delhi government to lay bamboo nets and water to eliminate the froth. Measures like sprinkling had to be taken.
Verma challenged Kejriwal to take a dip in the Yamuna river.
“He (Kejriwal) says he has cleaned the Yamuna and will take a dip. I call upon him to take a dip in the river two days from now,” he said.
Attacking Kejriwal’s visit to the Ghazipur landfill site, Verma said, “Is there a garbage issue right now? To divert attention from the Yamuna river pollution issue, the Delhi CM reached the Ghazipur landfill site.”
The Center had earlier this month constituted a joint committee comprising stakeholders including NMCG, Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB), UP Irrigation Department, Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Irrigation and Flood Control, Delhi and Delhi Pollution Control Committee. Coordinating efforts to control the flow of Okhla barrage in Yamuna and reduce froth during Chhath Puja.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)