By Vineet Malik | March 18, 2021 | London, England
A fortnight back, tens of thousands of Hindu Saints on a religious festival in northern India were perturbed as they were unable to take the traditional ‘holy dip’ in the sacred Yamuna river due to a surge in pollution levels.
The Yamuna river originates in the Himalayan mountain region. It has a spiritual connection with Hindu community.
In years gone by, the river flaunted its crystal clear water but over the years it has turned into one of the most polluted rivers in India.
Increase in pollution in the river is predominantly caused by growing urbanization, industrial development and the illegal disposal of untreated sewage.
I was dismayed when I looked down on the river bank when I visited a roof top restaurant in a Tibetan colony in New Delhi last year and saw the filth all over the place.
A recent report published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in February this year revealed that, out of 35 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), only one plant was functional that treats 90 million litres of water each day. Consequently, 300 million litres of untreated sewage flows into the Yamuna river.
This wouldn’t be allowed to happen if authorities had performed to best of its ability.
Manoj Misra, Convener, The Yamuna Forever Campaign says, “Lack of natural flow is one of the contributors for surge in pollution, which is endemic in Yamuna. Its only during monsoon season, that it gets some reasonable natural flow else remains starved as clean water gets diverted for irrigation and potable drinking purpose.
More than 70 per cent of potable water is supplied to households in Delhi from the Yamuna river.
At some places, water consumed by slum dwellers is still unsafe, as contamination deteriorate its quality.
It’s a pity that, every year almost 37.5 million Indians are affected due to water borne diseases nationally.
The provision of clean drinking water holds a significant place in Article 47 of the Constitution of India. It confers the duty of providing clean drinking water and improving public health standards to the states.
The water table in South Delhi has receded by almost nine feet annually. Water tanker mafia has been taking advantage of the grim situation who demand exorbitant amount from people residing in unauthorized colonies for providing illicitly extracted water from the ground.
Despite, India revised its National Water Policy in 2002 to motivate community participation and decentralize water management, the country’s convoluted bureaucracy is tied in knots over its genuine intent to address the issue.
Subijoy Dutta, Founding Director, Rivers of the World Foundation (ROWF) says, “Despite several designs and plans shared by us with then Delhi Water Supply and Sanitation Division, now Delhi Jal Board to capture industrial effluents in 1982, such remedial measures never progressed to implementation.”
Annual budget allocated by the Government to the tune of billions meant to clean the river since 2013 has yielded disappointing results.
Will the Government be ever held accountable ?
Its time to introduce a mechanism to identify and mark vulnerable pollution spots to red zones.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be established to eliminate red-tapism by defining a timeline.
A campaign should be initiated to mobilize community participation by assigning roles and duties to sensitize people from all walks of life.
Government should initiate stringent action against industries found to be violating the procedures laid down by the National Green tribunal (NGT) to stop the flow of untreated industrial effluents in the Yamuna river.
Comments