New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS): The now polluted Yamuna river will be cleaned within the next three years, asserted Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday while conducting a boat-ride inspection of the national capital's lifeline.

"The Yamuna river which has now been reduced to a dark grey-coloured lifeless river will be cleaned within the next three years," Mishra told IANS while on the fact-finding survey of the river.

"The oxygen level in the river has also gone way below what is required. We'll make the river so clean that people will be able to bathe in it," he said.

"We will make cleaning of the Yamuna a public movement. There was earlier a lack of political will to clean the river," he added.

He was accompanied by officials of various departments such as Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Development Authority and Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

He was accompanied by officials of these departments on the boat-ride from Wazirabad barrage to the ITO barrage during which they inspected various parts of the river.

"During this fact-finding session, I saw solid waste, dirty water and other pollutants being thrown into the river. This is the first time when somebody from the government has inspected the Yamuna. The changes will be visible within six months," he said.