In Delhi, toxic foam is seen floating on the surface of the river Yamuna at ITO today raising alarm and several citizens commenting on it. The Arvind Kejriwal government has come under criticism for this.
The government of Delhi had recently written out a nine-point action plan to reduce the frothing in the Yamuna River. Exerts state it is occurring due to the discharge of untreated sewage in the river.
Experts also stated that the surge in ammoniacal nitrogen levels has been regular in the Yamuna River but has notably increased in the last five-six years. Environmentalists analyzed that the cause of the foam could be the release of certain gases when reacting with few specific bacteria.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) held a meeting on January 4, with the officials of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Irrigation & Water Resources Department of Haryana and Irrigation and Flood Control Department of Delhi, Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), to discuss the issue.
Besides industrial waste released into the river, dirt, litter, and plastic waste is strewn across a stretch of 22 kilometers of the river.
Citizens criticized the Delhi Chief Minister on Twitter, writing: “Arvind Kejriwal, what about cleaning the river?”
Someone wrote, “Arvind Kejriwal failed miserably. Instead of cleaning it, he relaxed regulations so that more industrial wastes can be dumped in the Yamuna.”
Another comment, “Arvind Kejriwal, you forgot that till last week you were the world-renowned climate activist & environmentalist!”
Another person commented, “What’s the use of calling our rivers as goddesses if we can’t even survive them?”
Local residents told ANI that the day-before-yesterday the white forth formed a layer making it impossible for anybody to stand near the river bank.
Someone mentioned to ANI, “Another local resident who is also a diver said, “People here suffer from breathing issue. While diving, we can feel a burning sensation and redness in the eyes.”
Attempts at cleaning rivers in India have been futile because of habitual littering into rivers and allowing industrial waste to flow in. It seems to be an accepted mindset that rivers are dumping bodies of water.