UP, Haryana polluting Yamuna by releasing toxic water: Atishi

Inspecting the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant on Wednesday, Chief Minister Atishi accused Haryana and Uttar Pradesh of contaminating the Yamuna by releasing toxic water from industries in the states.

The Yamuna has been witnessing a sharp rise in ammonia levels in the Wazirabad reservoir due to the discharge of polluted industrial water from Haryana. This has affected the output of the Wazirabad, Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi water treatment plants.

The CM said, “The BJP’s dirty politics has not only polluted Delhi’s air but is now poisoning its water as well. The polluted industrial discharge from BJP-ruled Haryana has increased ammonia levels in the Yamuna.”

She added, “The toxic water from industries in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh is contaminating the Yamuna at the Kalindi Kunj barrage, leading to froth formation in the river.”

Atishi also said incidents of stubble burning have surged in BJP-ruled Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, leading to a rise in air pollution levels in Delhi. “The BJP is trying to harm the people of Delhi, but the AAP and Arvind Kejriwal are making efforts to protect them,” she said.

“The AAP government under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal will protect Delhiites from every conspiracy hatched by the BJP,” she said.

She alleged, “Froth continues to form in the Yamuna at the Kalindi Kunj barrage, especially around Diwali and Chhath Puja. This is because Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are deliberately discharging toxic industrial waste into Delhi’s waters during this period.”

The CM said the ammonia levels in the Yamuna at Wazirabad Barrage surged to three parts per million (ppm) by yesterday (Tuesday) evening, making the water unsuitable for treatment at the water treatment plants.

According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the acceptable maximum limit of ammonia in drinking water is 0.5 ppm, while the Delhi Jal Board can treat up to 0.9 ppm of raw water through the use of chlorination.

Atishi said, “Due to the polluted water being discharged into the Yamuna by Haryana, the output at the Wazirabad, Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi water treatment plants has been affected, leading to a water shortage in Delhi.”

The Chief Minister also addressed the issue of air pollution, noting that while Punjab has reduced stubble burning incidents by 50 per cent between 2021 and 2023, with an additional 25 per cent reduction in 2023-2024, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have seen an increase in such incidents by 23 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively.

“I want to assure the people of Delhi that despite the BJP’s dirty politics, the AAP government, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, will find solutions to the problems they have created,” she affirmed.

Blames BJP’s ‘dirty politics’

Both the rising pollution levels in the Yamuna and the worsening air quality in the Capital are the result of the BJP’s dirty politics. — Atishi, Chief Minister