Trump’s Taj visit : Yogi govt releases freshwater in Yamuna to mask foul smell from Trump

After BJP government in Gujarat constructed a 400-meter wall to hide filth and poverty from US president Donald Trump, BJP government in Uttar Pradesh used water to hide Yamuna’s filth from Trump.

Trump, who is set to visit India on February 23, is scheduled to visit Taj Mahal in Agra on February 24.

Taking cue from the Gujarat counterpart, Yogi government has ordered to release fresh water in Yamuna to mask foul smell ahead of Trump’s Agra visit.

As per the plan, the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department has released 500 cusecs of water from Bulandshahr into River Yamuna to improve its “environmental condition”. One cusec is approximately 28 liters.

“Keeping in mind US President Trump’s visit to Agra, 500 cusecs of water have 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 was quoted as saying by the local media.

UP’s pollution control board claimed that the move may not make Yamuna’s water fit for drinking but it will certainly reduce the foul smell.

“If 500 cusecs of water have been released into the Yamuna to control pollution, it will certainly have an impact. This will also improve the oxygen level in the Yamuna in Mathura and in Agra. This move may not make the Yamuna’s water fit for drinking, but could reduce the foul smell from the river,” assistant engineer Arvind Kumar said.

Trump, who is visiting India first time before US election, will address an audience which will mostly comprise Gujarati diaspora and those having families in the US at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Gujarat also.

As per a report published in the news agency Reuters, authorities in Ahmedabad will spend around Rs 80 crore to Rs 85 crore on preparations for the upcoming visit by Trump.