Yamuna in Agra must be cleaned immediately, according a top court decision

Agra: During a hearing on a petition submitted by the non-governmental organization Agra Development Foundation (ADF), the Supreme Court mandated that the silt, sludge, and dirt from the Yamuna river that flows through the City of Taj be cleared right away.

On Monday, after a hearing by senior counsel KC Jain over the plea submitted by ADF in 2019, a bench consisting of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjwal Bhuyan issued the ruling.

Advocate Jain said throughout the hearing that no noteworthy actions were taken to clean up the Yamuna previously. He also mentioned suggestions for desilting the river made by a team appointed by the Agra district magistrate and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

After hearing arguments from ADN Rao, an amicus curiae, and Aishwarya Bhati, an assistant attorney general, the court ordered prompt action to clean up the Yamuna if no earlier steps were taken. “The Yamuna needs to be kept clear of silt, sludge, and filth, and the central government can assist the agency in question if it wishes to work with a specialized agency.”