‘Hamari Yamuna Walkathon’ highlights urgent need for river revival
In a bid to revive the Yamuna river, over 500 National Cadet Corps (NCC), officers and citizens participated in the ‘Hamari Yamuna Walkathon’ on Sunday, highlighting the urgent need to restore the polluted river that was once the lifeline of the Capital.
Organised with the slogan ‘Bring Alive Yamuna,’ the walkathon aimed to inspire collective action toward saving the river, which flows for only 22 km within Delhi but suffers from 98 per cent of its total pollution.
The event was flagged off from the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) by Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA. Participants walked to Charkha Museum Park in Connaught Place, where they pledged their commitment to safeguarding the Yamuna.
Addressing the crowd, Joshi emphasised the significance of citizen involvement in environmental conservation, stating, “The Yamuna is not just a river; it is our heritage. If we do not act now, future generations will never know the river that gave life to our city.”
Throughout the walkathon, NCC cadets and students from Delhi University performed street plays (Nukkad Natak), portraying the river’s deterioration and calling for sustained efforts to clean and revive it. The performances resonated with spectators, many of whom expressed concern about the river’s dire state.
“We are here not only to raise awareness, but also to urge everyone to take personal responsibility for Yamuna’s restoration,” said one of the participants. Pamphlets were distributed along the route, encouraging people to adopt eco-friendly practices, reduce pollution and support river-cleaning efforts.
The walkathon concluded with a powerful message: “If we take the first step, the river can once again flow clean and strong.” The participants’ pledge underscored their hope for a cleaner Yamuna, reinforcing the belief that collective action is essential for the river’s revival.
‘Yamuna is our heritage’
The Yamuna is not just a river; it is our heritage. If we do not act now, future generations will never know the river that gave life to our city. —Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA
