New Delhi: The Yamuna River water in Delhi has once again become severely polluted. According to senior officials of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the ammonia level in the raw water at the upstream of Wazirabad was recorded at over 3 ppm on Wednesday morning. This level is three times the maximum limit of 1 ppm considered safe by the Jal Board. Officials say such high levels of ammonia indicate serious pollution, which is mainly caused by the discharge of industrial waste and chemicals into the river.
According to Jal Board officials, water treatment plants can safely treat ammonia up to a maximum of 0.9 ppm. Any higher ammonia concentration increases the risk of toxic chloramine compounds forming during the chlorine neutralization process, which can be seriously harmful to health. Consequently, as a precaution, the Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants are operating at reduced capacity, which could impact drinking water supplies in many areas of the capital.
What is the reason for the Yamuna pollution?
The Delhi Jal Board alleges that ammonia-containing chemicals, dyes, and chlorides are entering the Yamuna through an industrial drain in Panipat, Haryana. Furthermore, in Sonipat, there is only a thin sand barrier between the freshwater canal and the industrial waste canal, creating the risk of water from both sides mixing.
However, the Haryana government has repeatedly denied these allegations. Water Board officials say this problem has been recurring for several years, especially during the winter season, but no permanent solution has been found.
People are getting upset
Ashok Bhasin, president of the North Delhi Residents Welfare Association, said that several governments have changed, but no concrete steps have been taken to upgrade water treatment plants or create additional buffer storage. He said that increasing pollution in the Yamuna is not only continuously deteriorating water quality but also causing frequent drinking water crises in the capital, causing immense hardship to the common people.
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