Yamuna still covered in toxic foam as devotees prepare for Chhath Puja | Latest News Delhi

A thick layer of toxic foam continued to cover the surface of the Yamuna on Wednesday (a day before devotees took dips in water bodies as part of the Chhath Puja festival); Large chunks of foam were seen floating past Kalindi Kunj, making a mockery of the efforts of institutions in Delhi. to reduce pollution levels in the river.

The continued presence of the foam led to a blame game; While the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) claimed that the foam was a result of silt discharge from the Agra canal, the Uttar Pradesh government denied the claims.

Separately, the Delhi government issued an official notification on Wednesday, declaring November 7 a holiday.

The formation of toxic foam in the Yamuna is an annual occurrence during winter months, and experts say it is an indicator of high levels of untreated sewage and industrial pollutants in the river’s water.

Chhath Puja is a four-day festival celebrated by people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh (popularly known as Purvanchalis, who constitute an estimated one-third of Delhi’s population) and involves fasting devotees kneeling and offering “arghya” to the sun. Deep water on a designated day, which this year was November 7th.

A DJB official on Wednesday said that they have started sprinkling concentrated solutions of silicon dioxide-based antifoam solution from October 21 to reduce foaming in the Yamuna.

“We are facing challenges on two fronts: The operation of the Kalindi Kunj dam gate causes the water to become more agitated and foam more. Secondly, a large amount of silt was discharged from the Agra canal after it was cleaned before Diwali, which further increased the foam,” he said.

The 540-metre Kalindi Kunj dam is managed by the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department.

DJB has also set up a temporary laboratory to monitor water quality parameters. The official mentioned above explained that according to the water test results, the biochemical oxygen requirement of the samples up to DND Flyway was 19-20 units, the total suspended solids requirement was 50 units, the chemical oxygen requirement was around 50 units and the phosphate requirement was 1.5 units.

“The foam is collected in two reaction zones we have established in the area. The official claimed that the water downstream of the dam had become much more polluted due to silt discharge and did not meet swimming quality water parameters.

An official from the UP irrigation department said that the DJB allegations were false. “The canal is closed every year between Dussehra and Diwali for annual cleaning and maintenance and there is nothing new in the operations,” the official said.

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said it has become clear that the Atishi-led AAP government has failed to complete preparations for Chhath.

“Both Chhath committees and devotees are worried that they have to offer ‘arghya’ to the sun god tomorrow afternoon, but the ghats are still not ready by this evening,” he said.

AAP did not immediately respond to Sachdeva’s comment, but the Delhi government’s stated position was that pollution in the river had increased due to effluents released by UP and Haryana; This accusation was denied by both neighboring states.