Manak Sharma, Mumbai Uncensored, 16th November, 2023:

For decades, Delhi’s lifeline, the Yamuna River, has struggled with terrible pollution and neglect. The Delhi Government has, however, made noteworthy efforts to solve this problem and restore the river’s vitality. The government has made progress toward restoring the Yamuna River through changes in legislation, the building of infrastructure, and community involvement.        

Over the years, the Yamuna River has become severely polluted. It suffers from high levels of industrial and domestic sewage discharge, leading to foul odor, reduced aquatic life, and health hazards. Toxic pollutants and garbage have taken over its once-pristine banks, posing a significant environmental and public health crisis. The polluted Yamuna River has detrimental effects on the lives of Delhi’s residents. Contaminated water leads to widespread health issues, while its foul odor and unsightly appearance negatively impact the quality of life. Moreover, the river’s deteriorating condition poses economic challenges and threatens the city’s ecosystem, affecting livelihoods.

To address Yamuna River pollution, the Delhi government has put in place a comprehensive package of legal and policy initiatives. The “Yamuna Action Plan” unveiled in 2018 was one of the main projects. Through targeted measures, this plan attempts to reduce pollution and re-establish the biological equilibrium of the river. To limit the amount of pollutants that industries may release into the river, strict laws are enforced, and routine inspections are conducted to ensure compliance.

Additionally, the “Yamuna Revitalization Plan” was developed by the Delhi Jal Board in cooperation with other partners. This strategy is centered on managing solid waste and wastewater effectively while also conserving water resources. It emphasizes the necessity of coordinated planning across many government departments in order to handle the intricate problems brought on by river pollution.

The Yamuna River’s recovery has also been greatly aided by effective sewage treatment and waste management. Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are being built along riverbanks since the Delhi government realized the necessity for extensive sewage treatment infrastructure. Prior to being released into the river, these STPs purify domestic wastewater, greatly lowering the pollution load. The capacity of the city’s sewage treatment system was increased with the commissioning of several large-scale STPs.

To stop waste from being dumped into rivers, the government concentrates on solid waste management in addition to sewage treatment. The establishment of garbage segregation facilities encourages residents to segregate recyclable waste from non-recyclable rubbish. Facilities for recycling the gathered garbage are also established. Through these activities, the Yamuna River’s general health has improved by reducing the amount of solid garbage that it receives. The citizens of Delhi have also started becoming more vocal about government initiatives.

The Yamuna River ecology needs to be restored, and this requires significant reforestation initiatives and biodiversity preservation measures. The Delhi government launched extensive tree-planting programs along the riverbanks in coordination with environmental groups and other communities. These programs attempt to improve the overall environment for different flora and fauna species, stabilize the soil, and lessen erosion.

To increase the river’s ability for natural filtration and to aid in the resurgence of aquatic life, wetlands, and biodiversity parks are being developed. These wetlands serve as a natural barrier, removing pollutants and enhancing the quality of the water. Additionally, they offer a favourable habitat for the development of aquatic vegetation and the reproduction of fish, assisting in the restoration of the river’s biodiversity.

The Delhi Government’s initiatives to conserve the Yamuna River have included raising public awareness and encouraging community involvement. The government ran massive awareness campaigns, involving individuals in public gatherings, social media, and educational initiatives. The necessity of maintaining a clean river was made clear to the populace, and they were urged to take an active role in conservation efforts. Additionally, the government organized regular cleaning campaigns and river rejuvenation programs in conjunction with non-governmental organizations and community groups, energizing nearby communities for a common goal.

The Delhi Government concentrated on riverfront development and the provision of recreational places to re-establish a connection between the people of Delhi and the Yamuna River. The Yamuna Riverfront Development Project was started by the government to convert the riverbanks into energetic public areas. The establishment of parks, walkways, and bike lanes alongside the river gave residents recreational possibilities and raised awareness of the significance of the river’s revival.

To compare the cleanliness of the river pre and post-cleaning initiatives, exact facts and figures are required. The amount of sewage discharged into the Yamuna River has decreased by 50% since 2013. The number of industrial units discharging waste into the river has decreased by 70%. The amount of garbage collected from the riverbed has increased by 100%.

To conclude, the result of Delhi Government’s attempts to revitalize the Yamuna River still needs more focus despite the actions already taken. It is difficult to predict how long it will take to actually clean the river completely and bring it back to its pre-industrialized level. The government has made significant strides in reducing pollution and re-establishing the biological balance of the river through legislative changes, sewage treatment, waste management, afforestation, and community involvement. However, maintaining these successes and guaranteeing the Yamuna River’s long-term health will require more dedication, oversight, and creative solutions.

In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that real estate developer Pentagon Premises Pvt. Ltd. has been illegally chopped trees on a private plot being developed by their company in Andheri West.

According to reports, the company had acquired a large sized redevelopment project at a prime location of the city and had started construction of a residential complex. However, the land that the company had acquired had several trees, where any kind of illegal tree cutting was strictly prohibited, as per Government Norms.

Our News Reporter asked the company’s representatives present on the construction site regarding a permission letter with the following details: The trees’ species, size (height and girth), the number of trees to be trimmed, the number of branches on the trees to be cut, their size, location, the date when the permission was given, reason for trimming. On asking the same, the representatives of Pentagon Premises Pvt. Ltd. had no information on the same.

We also asked them to produce a Permission Letter, incase trees are being fully cut, including details of: The tree’s species, size (height and girth), location, the date when the permission was given, reason for cutting along with a mention if the tree has to be transplanted at another location. On asking the same, the representatives of Pentagon Premises Pvt. Ltd. had no information on the same.

Despite producing the required legal documents to the journalist covering this illegal activity, the company went ahead and continued cutting down trees on the land. The illegal activity was brought to the attention of Mumbai Uncensored’s journalists by concerned citizens who had noticed the activity.

Upon investigation, it was found that the company had cut down several trees, many of which were of significant age and size. The illegal activity had caused a significant impact on the local ecosystem, affecting the habitat of several species of animals and birds.

The local authorities have no idea about this activity. We have asked Mr. Ithape from BMC’s Garden Deparment to taken a strict stance against the company and have issued a notice to stop all construction work on the land. The company should also been fined heavily for its illegal activity, as well as an FIR must be registered, as per rules.

Environmentalists and conservationists have condemned the actions of the company and have called for stricter laws to protect the environment. They have also called for more stringent penalties for companies and individuals who engage in such illegal activities.

The incident has once again highlighted the need for companies to follow legal regulations and to be more responsible in their actions. It is crucial that we protect our environment for future generations, and such incidents only serve as a reminder of the need to be more vigilant in protecting our natural resources.

Arpita Sarkar, Mumbai Uncensored, 2nd March 2023:

Series of powerful successive earthquakes struck the Turkish-Syrian border on Feb 6, 2023. The first and the most powerful one was 7.8 magnitude quake followed by 7.5 magnitude quake after which series of earthquake or smaller magnitude aftershocks occurred. Buildings collapsed and thousands of people were found dead.  Besides, fire broke out due to damage of gas pipelines. Subsequently, many people were reported missing.

Scientists believe that it was not the last one to hit that region. Magnitude of 7.8 was significantly bigger compared to the previously recorded earthquake  of 7.4 magnitude in that region.

This happened due to 3 tectonic plates converge under the surface of that region of Syria and Turkey. Tectonic plates are massive slabs of rocks on the earth’s crust from 10 miles to 160 miles that are constantly in slow motion.

The Anatolia plate is a microplate upon which most of the country of Turkey is located. However, it is constantly pressed against the Eurasia plate (upward) by the Arabia plate (moving westward towards the Anatolia plate) and the African plate (moving northward towards the Anatolia plate) . 

The result being the boundaries between the Antolia plate and the African plate and Arabia plate are sliding against each other because the Africa plate and Arabia plate move towards east and Antolia in the west.

Hence, the earthquake occurred because of slip of active srtike-strip faults, that is, friction between the borders of the boundaries of Antolia plate in different directions till they could bear the strain, rupture and finally release the accumulated strain of long time.

Rescue efforts amid the ongoing aftershocks were made. Social media alerts were made. What are happening in those regions are natures and man-made efforts to be seen.