‘Haryana needs to monitor ammonia levels in drinking water’

Delhi Jal Board moves plea in National Green Tribunal

The Delhi Jal Board on Monday moved an application in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking directions to the Haryana government to take active measures in controlling pollution in the Yamuna, which is a source of drinking water.

A Bench headed by judicial member Jawad Rahim and expert member Nagin Nanda issued a notice to the Haryana government and sought a reply by Tuesday.

High pollution levels

The Delhi Jal Board contended in its petition that sewage treatment plants were unable to treat the water properly as pollution levels were extremely high. Further, it said that presence of high levels of ammonia was affecting the quality of drinking water.

Citing the presence of polluted water at the Wazirabad reservoir, the application read, “The present application is being filed by the Delhi Jal Board to seek directions to the Haryana government to urgently take steps and reduce dangerous ammonia levels and other consequent pollution being caused in the drinking water source or the Yamuna.”

The Jal Board sought directions to the Haryana government to “constantly monitor ammonia levels before the water enters Wazirabad pond in Delhi from Haryana and take immediate steps to reduce the blackish colour and foul smell in the water being supplied at Wazirabad pond from Haryana.”

The application added, “keep ammonia levels below 0.3 PPM and under no circumstances above 0.5 PPM.”

It also referred to a Supreme Court judgment, where the court had said, “So far as the water supply from the Yamuna to Delhi is concerned, we order and direct that Delhi shall continue to get as much water for domestic use from Haryana through the Yamuna which can be consumed and filled in the two water reservoirs and treatment plants in Wazirabad and Haiderpur. We direct Haryana to not obstruct the supply of water to Delhi as directed by us.”