Home / Environment / Pollution Chokes Delhi's Lifeline: Munak Canal Faces Grave Contamination Threat
Pollution Chokes Delhi's Lifeline: Munak Canal Faces Grave Contamination Threat
28 Oct
Summary
- Munak Canal, a critical water source for Delhi, faces widespread pollution
- Dumping, waste burning, and industrial waste threaten canal's water quality
- Breaches in the past 2 years have disrupted Delhi's water supply for days
As of October 2025, Delhi's Munak Canal, a critical piece of infrastructure supplying raw water to the capital, is facing a grave threat from widespread pollution and neglect. A recent inspection by the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has revealed multiple sources of contamination along the canal's route through Haryana and northwest Delhi.
The report highlights alarming issues, including open defecation, waste burning, industrial dumping, and cattle bathing in the canal. Garbage is being dumped and segregated near slum clusters, with waste spilling directly into the water. The banks are also strewn with human excreta, and electric wires are being burnt to extract copper, leaving behind ash and residues that wash into the canal.
