In what has become a repeat occurrence in Delhi, a layer of froth was seen floating over parts of the Yamuna river as devotees took a dip in the river for Chhath. In pic, devotees offer prayers at the Kalindi Kunj ghat in Gautam Buddh Nagar on Wednesday, November 10.
According to experts, the release of untreated or poorly treated effluents, including sewage from those parts of the city that are not connected to the sewerage network, and industrial waste could lead to frothing.
The frothing is seen only near Kalindi Kunj, downstream of the Okhla barrage, according to a senior Delhi Jal Board official, who added that if the sewage from Delhi was to blame, the frothing would have been seen across the entire stretch of the river.
A woman brushes her teeth as she stands amid the foam covering the polluted Yamuna river on a smoggy morning in New Delhi, India November 8, 2021.
Criticism against the Delhi government grew after visuals of several Chhath devotees surrounded by toxic foam emerged. On Wednesday, the government deployed several tactics to control the froth over Yamuna.
These tactics involved spraying water to “break the froth” and building bamboo nets to keep the ghats clear of the foam.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) with the help of the Irrigation Flood Control Department and Revenue Department also came up with a “temporary” measure of clearing the froth with speed boats and ropes.
However, Vikas Rai, chairman of Chhath Puja Samiti, Kalindi Kunj, expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s actions, saying, “boats, nets and water sprinkling won’t help. The froth will come back the minute you remove it. This is an eyewash so that the media doesn’t criticise the government over the pollution.”…