Indian authorities are not leaving any stone unturned to prepare ahead of US president Donald Trump’s visit next week. Recently, they hastily erected a half-kilometer (1,640ft) brick wall to block the view of slums behind them in Gujarat’s capital.
Slum-dwellers in the city of Ahmedabad say they have been served eviction notices by municipal authorities.
Interestingly, authorities have more in mind to make the country look clean and polished.
Trump is set to visit India on a two-day trip between February 23 and 26. The main segment of the visit will take place in Delhi, though an option of having a short visit by the president to another city is being explored.
Agra and Ahmedabad are being considered for Trump's visit.
“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 told news agency PTI.
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, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) assistant engineer Arvind Kumar said when asked about the development.
“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 level in the Yamuna in Mathura and in Agra. This move may not make the Yamuna’s water fit for drinking, but could reduce foul smell from the river,” he added.