Agra: Ahead of US president's visit, extra water released from Upper Ganga Canal in Uttarakhand to replenish Yamuna

AGRA: Ahead of US president Donald Trump’s visit to Taj Mahal in Agra, 500 cusecs of water has been released from Upper Ganga canal to meet water scarcity and improve the environmental condition of Yamuna river flowing along the monument of love.
According to a letter issued by the Uttar Pradesh government, 500 cusecs water has been released from Kot escape in Gautam Budh Nagar on February 17 evening and it will reach Yamuna river in Agra via Mathura on February 22 evening.
Talking to TOI, irrigation department superintending engineer Dharmendra Singh Phogat said that the aim is to maintain a certain level of water in Yamuna till February 24.
He said, "if 500 cusecs of water has been released into the Yamuna to control pollution, it will certainly have an impact. This will also improve the oxygen levels in the river in Mathura and Agra. This move may not make the Yamuna's water fit for drinking, but could reduce foul smell from the river and improve water quality," he said.
He told TOI that 150 cusecs of water is released throughout the year from Harnol escape, Vrindavan. This time additional 500 cusecs of water has been released from Kot escape in Gautambudh nagar that will merge in Hindon river after 18 km of distance and then Yamuna river in Noida, Mathura, and finally in Agra.

Irrigation department’s superintending engineer Agra circle (III) GP Srivastava told TOI that this time 1500-1600 cusecs water is flowing in Yamuna here. He said, "additional water will increase nearly 1 feet level".
Agra district magistrate, Prabhu N Singh, said that Yamuna cleaning is also being done along with increasing level of water in the river. He said, "it is a part of the preparations for US President’s visit to Agra".
An activist, Gopeshwar Nath Chaturvedi, who filed a petition in NGT and Allahabad high court for cleaning and maintaining ecological flow of Yamuna river, told TOI "The move will surely make an impact but for a day or two only. They should do this permanently so pilgrims and tourists can also see clean Yamuna.