The River Yamuna, also revered as Kalindi, holds immense religious, cultural, and civilizational significance. As the principal tributary of the Ganga, Yamuna converges with it at Prayagraj. However, this sacred river now faces a grave existential crisis. Years of neglect, pollution, and administrative inaction have pushed it to the brink, and only major, sustained efforts can reverse the damage. In this context, the insights of a seasoned civil servant like Mr. Asok Kumar G (Retd IAS: 1991: Telangana cadre) become especially valuable.
Mr. Asok Kumar G, who served as Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) from 2022 to 2024, has been deeply involved in water conservation and river rejuvenation efforts since 2019. He is also known for coining the impactful ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign during his tenure as Mission Director of the National Water Mission, earning him the popular moniker Rain Man. Even after retirement, his passion for environmental causes remains undiminished as he continues to champion initiatives for water sustainability and river revival.
As the Yamuna River continues to suffer from severe pollution and neglect—especially along the 22-kilometre-long stretch in Delhi—Mr. Asok Kumar’s experience could offer a practical roadmap for change. Notably, the previous AAP-led Delhi government failed to meet multiple deadlines to clean the river. In contrast, the newly elected BJP government has signalled a more proactive approach, with the entire Delhi cabinet visiting the Yamuna banks shortly after taking office.
Mr. Asok Kumar is scheduled to speak on the urgent need to rejuvenate the Yamuna and share his practical knowledge and strategies drawn from his leadership in the Ganga clean-up mission. His talk, titled “Rejuvenating Yamuna: Learning from the Ganga Experience”, will be held on May 23 at 6 PM in Conference Room 1, Main Building, India International Centre (IIC), Delhi.
With Yamuna’s fate hanging in the balance, voices like Mr. Asok Kumar’s offer hope—and perhaps, a turning point—for meaningful change.
