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Yamuna's Water Quality Worsens Despite Minor May Dip
27 Jun
Summary
- Yamuna's water quality saw minor improvements in May but remained alarmingly high.
- Fecal coliform levels dipped slightly but still far exceeded safe standards.
- Dissolved oxygen was nil in most stretches, hindering aquatic life.
Recent water quality monitoring of the Yamuna river in Delhi indicates that despite a marginal dip in fecal coliform levels in May compared to April, pollution remains alarmingly high. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) reported these findings based on samples collected on May 5.
Fecal coliform counts, a key indicator of sewage contamination, decreased at some locations, including ISBT Bridge. However, levels at Asgarpur, the most polluted stretch where the Yamuna exits Delhi, actually rose, signifying accumulated pollutants. Dissolved oxygen remained at zero in several critical stretches, meaning the river cannot support aquatic life.
Biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels, another crucial measure of water health, were only within safe limits where the Yamuna enters Delhi at Palla. Elsewhere, BOD levels, particularly at Asgarpur, exceeded safe limits significantly. Experts emphasize that ensuring adequate environmental flows is critical for the Yamuna's restoration, a requirement often overlooked in favor of infrastructure projects.
Activists highlight that the river typically sees some relief during monsoon season due to increased water flow. However, forecasts of a weak monsoon potentially exacerbated by El Niño conditions could worsen the situation in the coming months. The continuous degradation underscores the urgent need for prioritizing environmental flows over increased water extraction by states sharing the Yamuna basin.
