Rise in Yamuna pollution hits Delhi’s water supply

DJB cuts production at two water treatment plants by half

Delhiites will face water scarcity over the next couple of days because of a spike in industrial pollutants in the Yamuna, forcing the Delhi Jal Board on Monday to cut production at the Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants by 50 per cent.

Untreated industrial waste was released into the river through the Panipat drain in Haryana, increasing the pollution levels.

DJB officials said production was slashed after ammonia levels in the Yamuna rose to 1.2 parts per million (ppm) against the limit of 0.2 ppm. As a result, water supply across the city will be affected.

“Due to curtailment of production at the Wazirabad and Chandrawal WTPs, several areas in Central, Old, North, parts of South Delhi and those falling under the New Delhi Municipal Council will receive reduced supply at low pressure for a couple of days. Normal production will be restored at both the plants as soon as the pollution level recedes,” the DJB said in a statement.

Team dispatched

Officials said the Jal Board had dispatched an inspection team to identify the source of pollution.

“The team comprising officers from the Treatment and Quality Control Wing of the DJB reported that the rise in pollution is attributable to high concentration of industrial and domestic waste in the untreated waste flows being discharged through the Panipat drain into the Yamuna,” an official said.

The officials said the Jal Board is constantly monitoring the raw water parameters and taking all necessary steps to ensure that water supply is potable. The DJB Chief Executive Officer, Vijay Kumar, has spoken to the Principal Secretary (Irrigation), Haryana, to take immediate steps to prevent pollutants from entering the Yamuna, the officials said.

The DJB statement said: “The Delhi Government had been actively taking up this issue with the Haryana Government and the Centre.”

The statement further said that at a meeting of the Delhi and Haryana Chief Ministers about two years ago, Haryana had said it would take long-term measures to manage pollutants entering the Yamuna from the Panipat drain.

“But despite repeated persuasion by the DJB, nothing substantial has been done,” the statement said.