Four-day project to explore the river-city dyad takes off today

The 'disconnect' between the people of Delhi and its very own river Yamuna, the problem of pollution plaguing the river which once used to be city's lifeline, the state of affairs of its various banks and also the lifestyle of people inhabiting its banks, all this and more.

The 'disconnect' between the people of Delhi and its very own river Yamuna, the problem of pollution plaguing the river which once used to be city's lifeline, the state of affairs of its various banks and also the lifestyle of people inhabiting its banks, all this and more.

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A group of people from diverse backgrounds and connected directly or indirectly with the Yamuna would be exchanging their views on such topics during a four-day event, starting Wednesday.

As part of the '60 years of Germany in India' celebrations, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, a developmental arm of the German government, has envisaged a four-day project 'Yamuna Katha' to explore the river-city dyad.

A haathi-wala, a farmer carrying out agriculture on Yamuna flood plains and a river specialist would travel together along the bank and reflect collectively on the river.

"Rivers are not just important for environment and water management for people, but they can also form quality structures for urban development for people to get connected with it," said Regina Dube, GIZ's senior advisor and head (sustainable urban habitat).

Stressing that it is important to involve the society into the cultural-political-social discussions about their river and their city, Dube said, "Most discussions happen at the academic level. Event like Yamuna Katha will help in understanding the value of the river for Delhiites."

The four-day event starts with a visit to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) water works unit at Wazirabad. Said DJB spokesperson, "We found the idea as an extension of what we are already doing as part of our outreach programme aimed at developing the people-river connect under the Yamuna Action Plan III."

The Yamuna Katha programme will also have cultural programmes on the theme of river, including that by Tibetan school students at the Majnu Ka Tilla and Dastangoi, the traditional story telling session.