For the third time in the past 10 days, ammonia levels in the Wazirabad pond have overshot the permissible limits due to release of untreated industrial and domestic waste from Haryana.
The Delhi Jal Board was on Thursday forced to reduce production by 25 per cent at its water treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal. The DJB has taken up the issue with the Haryana Government.
“The matter was taken up by the Member (Water Supply), DJB as an agenda item at the meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board, held on Thursday at the Central Water Commission Office. The Upper Yamuna River Board chairman showed concern and requested Haryana to spell out their plans to stop the flows of untreated industrial and domestic waste being released through the Panipat drain into the Yamuna,” said a DJB official.
The DJB chief executive officer has also brought the matter to the attention of the Principal Secretary, Haryana Irrigation, and has requested him to take preventive measures as well as release an additional quantity of fresh water through drain number eight to dilute the pollution levels in the Wazirabad pond. The Principal Secretary, Haryana, informed him that additional water would be released to alleviate the problem.
A few days ago, the DJB was forced to cut down production at the two water treatment plants by half because of a spike in industrial pollutants in the Yamuna. Then also, the ammonia levels had risen beyond the permissible limit owing to the untreated industrial waste released into the river through the Panipat drain.
Due to curtailment of production at the Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants, water supply in several areas of Central, Old, North, parts of South Delhi and those falling under the New Delhi Municipal Council were badly effected. The Jal Board had then also spoken to the Principal Secretary (Irrigation), Haryana, to take necessary measures.
