More water to improve Yamuna in Taj city

MATHURA: The Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department has released 500 cusecs of water into the Yamuna from the Ganganahar in Bulandshahr to improve the river's “environmental condition” in Agra, ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, officials said on Tuesday.

Trump is set to visit India on a two-day trip between February 23 and 26. “Keeping in mind US President Trump's visit to Agra, 500 cusecs of water has been released from the Ganganahar to improve the environmental condition of the Yamuna. This water will reach the Yamuna in Mathura by February 20 and Agra by February 21 afternoon,” the department's superintending engineer Dharmender Singh Phogat said.

He said the department aims to maintain a certain level of water in the Yamuna till February 24.


This move is likely to reduce the “foul smell” from the Yamuna, UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) assistant engineer Arvind Kumar said.