Environmentalists decry building Games village on Yamuna banks

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) Decrying the government move to usurp Yamuna land for Commonwealth Games, environmentalists today called for immediate rolling back of the decision and shifting the games' venue to save Delhi from impending environmental disaster.

Addressing mediapersons here Magasaysay Award winner Rajender Singh of 'Jal Biradri' said in the name of development and preparation for Commonwealth Games Delhi was being derobed of its pristine character and natural resources.

''The manner in which Delhi's green cover, its water systems and Yamuna bed was being unscrupulously exploited and Yamuna being throttled through incessant encroachment, the city was heading towards disaster. Whenever nature is disturbed, consequences have been very dangerous and the government must realise this.'' Corporatisation of Delhi's natural resources would spell doom for the future of the city and its denizens, he said, while adding that Jal Biradri's 'Yamuna Satyagraha' would continue as the government had failed to act despite several petitions to this effect.

''The loot in the name of Games with the earlier estimate of Rs 40 crore shooting upto nearly a lakh crore speaks volumes of the level of corruption that was being indulged in.'' Ms Vandana Shiva of 'Citizen's Front for Water Democracy' said the irony is that the planning for Delhi was being done by foreigners who were interested in profit-making, while the people of Delhi were being kept away from the discussions.

''Neither the development plan was being discussed in Vidhan Sabha nor among the people. Instead, foreign developers were being asked to draw plans which need not necessarily be for the good of the 86 per cent of the populace which lives here.'' Delhi's future was being shifted to the 14 per cent of the corporate class which was interested in profiteering and not protecting the future and environment of Delhi, she told the media.

''This sort of planning was making Delhi a lifeless city and mostly Yamuna -- the lifeline of millions, a dead river.'' To save Delhi from environmental degradation, we would tie 'rakhi' to trees on the riverine belt of the Yamuna on 'rakshabandhan' day to express solidarity with Delhi's environment, she said, adding that everything would be done to save Delhi and Yamuna from choking to death.

Other environmentalists also denounced the reckless exploitation of the Yamuna banks specially for the Commonwealth Games saying all concerns about environment were being set aside to push the project that would benefit the builder lobby.

UNI