Haryana Converts Polluting Drain to Save Yamuna

Haryana is close to completing a significant environmental project to curb ammonia spikes in the Yamuna River. The state has converted 98% of the 24,100-ft long Diversion Drain No. 6 (DD-6), an open drain carrying industrial effluents, into a closed conduit system. This conversion aims to prevent these pollutants from mixing with DD8, a freshwater drain crucial for Delhi's water supply.

This initiative was spurred by concerns over fish deaths in the Yamuna and contamination of Delhi's drinking water. The Delhi Jal Board previously reported that DD6, choked with waste, was leaching into DD8, causing water quality issues. Ammonia spikes, a chronic winter problem, occur frequently and can render water untreatable, leading to supply disruptions in Delhi, as experienced in January when key water treatment plants were temporarily closed.

While the exact completion date for the conduit system remains unspecified, Haryana has submitted an action plan to the National Green Tribunal to address inflow issues, with a deadline of June 30, 2028. The drain was found to carry 42.7 MLD of industrial waste, despite being designated as a stormwater drain. The conversion is anticipated to significantly improve water quality in the Yamuna and ensure a more reliable water supply for the capital.