New Delhi: The Yamuna River plays a central role in the history and existence of Delhi, much like the Nile in Cairo or the Hudson in New York. The river has been vital to India’s cultural and religious identity, especially within Hinduism.
Despite numerous efforts over the years to clean the Yamuna, it has become one of the most polluted rivers in India, especially in Delhi. Political parties have made repeated promises to restore the river, but all have failed, instead continuing to blame each other for its worsening condition.
In fact, Delhi has contributed significantly to the pollution, even though the Yamuna flows through only 22 kilometers of the city, less than 2 percent of its total length.
One major source of pollution is the Najafgarh drain, which carries industrial waste, sewage, and other pollutants into the river. This drain, which was originally a natural rain-fed river, brings a huge amount of water—though mostly contaminated—into the Yamuna. Efforts to clean the drain have been caught in political disputes, with the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor’s office clashing over jurisdiction. As a result, clean-up initiatives have stalled.
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Data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee shows that dissolved oxygen levels in the river drastically decrease as it moves through Delhi. While the river starts with an acceptable level of oxygen, by the time it exits the city, it is devoid of life. Ammonia levels, another key pollutant, also spike dangerously high, making the water hazardous. Additionally, untreated sewage and industrial waste increase fecal coliform levels, leading to waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid.
In Episode 1599 of #CutTheClutter, ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta, along with Senior Assistant Editor Soumya Pillai, who focuses on science & environment, looks at reasons behind Yamuna’s sorry state & discusses the politicisation of river cleaning programmes.
Also read: 3 reasons Kejriwal gave to justify his allegation of Yamuna water being ‘poisoned’, EC not convinced
