In collaboration with Territorial Army: Delhi govt set to deploy Yamuna Task Force to protect floodplains, curb encroachment

Parvesh Sahib Singh confirmed that the initiative is being undertaken and said that the BJP government is “committed to restoring the Yamuna and protecting its floodplains.” “This initiative is a part of PM Modi’s guarantee to provide a clean and sustainable environment for Delhi’s citizens. For years, illegal encroachments and waste dumping have choked the Yamuna. Now, with the help of the Territorial Army, we will ensure that no further damage is done to this sacred river,” the Water Minister said.

In the run-up to the Assembly polls in Delhi, the cleaning of Yamuna emerged as a key political issue and was among the BJP’s top poll promises. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accused the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of neglecting the river after the BJP secured a majority. In its manifesto, the BJP had also promised to develop a Yamuna riverfront in collaboration with the Central government, on the lines of the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad. Interactive shows, 24*7 commercial operations, and theatres along the river banks were counted among the key highlights. The party also promised to set up ‘Yamuna Kosh’ to revitalise the river.

Meanwhile, officials have also said that the BJP government will fund the deployment of army personnel in the Yamuna Task Force (YTF). “These army personnel will be responsible for regular patrolling, preventing unauthorised construction, and ensuring that waste and construction debris are not dumped along the riverbanks. The YTF is going to be a game changer in restoring the river’s ecological balance, preventing pollution, and ensuring sustainable land use,” underlined an official.

The CM is expected to “have formal communication with the territorial army in the next two-three days,” said officials.

This isn’t the first time that the Delhi government has involved the Territorial Army in protecting Yamuna. In 2023, under the former AAP-led government, a Territorial Army company was deployed to oversee the enforcement and monitoring of untrapped drains and sub-drains that contribute to the pollution of the Yamuna.