Noida residents depend on water tankers amid two polluted rivers

Noida: Noida is situated beside two rivers—the Yamuna and the Hindon—but the residents are facing a major water crisis. Why? Heavy pollution has made the water of these two rivers unsafe not only for drinking but even for irrigation as well. Currently, private tankers can be seen near the housing societies. Noida residents will have to depend on alternate sources of water unless some arrangements like cleaning up these rivers take place.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has declared the Hindon River a “dead river.” This means the pollution levels are so high that not even fish or other aquatic life can survive in it. Sadly, the Yamuna is in no better shape. Untreated sewage is regularly dumped into it in Delhi, ruining the river’s quality before it flows into Uttar Prades

Scientific tests show how severe the pollution really is. At Okhla Barrage in the Yamuna, the level of dissolved oxygen (DO)—which is crucial for aquatic life — is just 2.1 mg/litre. In the Hindon at Kulesra Village, Greater Noida, the DO is zero. This is far below what’s considered safe, not just for drinking but even for supporting fish or plants.

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Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain, said that the “rivers are now so polluted that their water can’t even be used for farming or to support wildlife.” She has called for urgent action to treat sewage and control pollution.

The harmful bacteria in the water is shocking. The Yamuna and Hindon contain 200,000 and 3.9 faecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters of water, respectively, in the same amount of water. As per the experts, 50 is the safe limit. Water woes continue in Noida, and people are facing all the hardships.