NEW DELHI: "Yamuna Satyagrah Yatra", which set out from Haryana this past Wednesday to generate public awareness and build up support for the cause of revival of the Yamuna, ended at Kudesia Ghat here on Saturday. Members of non-government organisations and Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh, better known as "Waterman", took part in the Satyagrah that witnessed participation by citizens of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Apart from Mr. Rajendra Singh, Diwan Singh of Ridge Bachao Andolan, Kumar Omkareshwar of Yamuna Bachao Andolan and Tajeswar Kalia participated in the Yatra along with others.

"The idea was to find out for ourselves the major ills that bedevil the river," said Mr. Diwan Singh.

The activists pointed out that despite the 1994 Memorandum of Understanding among all the riparian States sharing Yamuna water, there was hardly any water flowing into the river after Hathnikund Barrage.

"The agreed 11 per cent of water flow in the river was just not there. In fact, it was barely one per cent and the water dried up after a few kilometres," informed Mr. Singh.

The Satyagrah participants demanded that the agreed 11 per cent of water be released into the river.

Residents of areas spread over several districts along the banks of the Yamuna complained of suffering from severe health problems due to release of polluted waste waters into the river by various industries from Yamuna Nagar onward and particularly by those located in Panipat, the activists recalled.

March against constructions

The activists have now planned a march along the Yamuna Pushta Road in East Delhi this Sunday to protest against constructions on the riverbed. The march will begin from Wazirabad and end at the Commonwealth Games Village site. The marchers will demand stoppage of construction on the riverbed.

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