Delhi Minister Extends Yamuna Cleanup Deadline to 2029, Cites Sewage Issues

• Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Singh Sahib Verma announced the Yamuna will be cleaned by 2029, extending the previous deadline by three years.
• Verma stated that the river cannot be fully restored in the immediate future, emphasizing the need to stop untreated sewage and polluted streams.
• The government has approved 32 high-capacity cleaning machines, including two Finnish dredgers, to tackle pollution in major drains.
• These machines are expected to be operational by March, with the cleaning drive commencing in January from the Najafgarh drain.
• The initiative aims to prevent sludge, silt, and solid waste from entering the Yamuna through mechanized deep desilting and weed removal.

Why It Matters: Delhi government pushes Yamuna cleanup target to 2029, citing complex pollution challenges.