New Delhi, Jul 10 (UNI) The Delhi Cabinet, in its meeting on Wednesday approved the inter-departmental committee report on the first-of-its kind project in the country, the Yamuna flood plain natural water storage pilot project.
The Cabinet was chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The important project aims at conserving water in the Yamuna floodplains and creating a mega reservoir between Palla and Wazirabad to deal with the water shortage in Delhi, particularly during summer months.
The project envisages creation of small ponds in the floodplains which will catch water from an overflowing Yamuna during the monsoon season. Most of the approvals have been received for the pilot project, barring two from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) committees, which are expected very soon.
Soon after the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister called up the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
He thanked the Union Minister for the quick approvals by the Centre for the project.
The Chief Minister also thanked him for the full cooperation Delhi received from Centre for the pilot project.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Mr Kejriwal said,'Big step towards realising the dream of self reliant Delhi in water: Cabinet this morning approved the interdepartmrntal committee report on Yamuna floodplain natural water storage pilot project. I thank union minister @gssjodhpur for all the cooperation'.
The pilot project has been fast paced due to the hourly monitoring by the CM on a personal basis. He has been keenly pushing for the ambitious pilot project which is going to be a game-changer for Delhi.
The Chief Minister is fully convinced that only recycle and recharge of water are the solutions to the problem of water scarcity in the national capital, particularly during the harsh summer months.
The timely intervention and regular monitoring of the pilot project by the Chief Minister, has now given a full one month's time to the Irrigation & Flood Department for the preparations of the project.
The timely approvals of the Centre also came in as a shot in the arm and helped in giving ample time to do the groundwork for the project.
The pilot project will prove to be a game-changer not only for Delhi but for the whole country which is facing huge water crisis in different parts.
The Yamuna flood plain project is first of its kind in the country. The concept of water recharge and recycle has been heard mostly in developed countries.
The interdepartmental committee report recommended that an amount of Rs 77,000 per acre should be paid to the farmers for leasing their land for the ambitious pilot project.
The farmers will get the sum according to the number of acres of land they give the government on lease for the pilot project.
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