Yamuna sees dangerous rise in waste and chemicals this May

 

 

New Delhi: Delhi's Yamuna River sees a sharp rise in pollution this May due to a rise in waste and chemicals such as fecal matter, ammonia, and phosphates, as per a report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Water samples that were collected just before heavy rains on May 1 made it clear that pollution levels were high at the Yamuna’s entry and exit points of the city, Palla and Asgarpur, respectively.

 

One of the most alarming findings was the spike in fecal coliform bacteria, which indicates human or animal waste in the water. The level reached 23 lakh MPN (most probable number) per 100 millilitres in May—much higher than April's 15 lakh. Ammonia levels also more than doubled from last month, rising from 2.3mg/litre to 5.7mg/litre.

Experts, however, raised concerns about inconsistent test results. Environmentalist Pankaj Kumar, founder of Earth Warrior, questioned why the river’s oxygen demand (BOD), which usually rises with fecal pollution, did not match expectations. For example, BOD dropped from 37mg/l at Nizamuddin Bridge to 23mg/l at Okhla barrage, even though fecal levels increased.

At Palla, the water had a high dissolved oxygen (DO) level of 9.8mg/l but a BOD of only 4mg/l. Experts say this is unusual because high DO typically means a low BOD. One expert suggested that this could be due to algal growth, which raises DO levels during the day but reduces it at night.

Another concern is the steady BOD levels at Wazirabad. While the safe BOD level for bathing is 3mg/l, Wazirabad recorded 9mg/l in February, 7mg/l in March, and 6mg/l in April and May. A Delhi government official questioned whether the Delhi Jal Board was properly monitoring the river.

Experts believe that frequent and detailed testing should take place on a regular basis to understand the overall situation of the Yamuna. The pollution levels are increasing, which is a concern about water quality, health, and the river cleaning.