Nitin Gadkari, Union minister for Ganga rejuvenation, rivers and water resources, blamed the slow progress of the clean-up of the river Yamuna in Delhi for the pollution and subsequent damage to the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Gadkari lamented that despite holding several meetings with the Delhi authorities, one of which was just two days ago, there continued to be “lots of problems.”
He said that “there has been no progress” regarding the river cleaning. “Unless the waters are cleaned in Delhi, the pollution will flow into Agra, and see, how it it damaging the Taj,” he said.
The minister said that he would now insist on a meeting with the chief minister, deputy chief minister, chief secretary and lieutenant governor of Delhi on the subject.
Gadkari also appeared to 'tone down' the NDA government's promise of a nirmal and aviral (clean and free flowing) Ganga, saying that he would be able to deliver an 80-90 per cent nirmal ganga before the next elections.
The flow in the river, however, was second priority. He said studies on how to ensure enough water all year through in the Ganga were under way, but this would take time to be accepted and even longer to be implemented.
Referring to the progress of nirmal ganga, the minister said that all the villages (4,000 plus) along the river's banks had been proclaimed open defecation free. He said that the main nullahs emptying pollutants into the river in Kanpur continued to be a challenge, but this problem would be rectified by October.