The Yamuna River in Delhi, now shrouded in toxic white froth, has taken center stage in environmental discussions. Captured through satellite imagery, these visuals show frothy patches near two barrages around 3 km apart in the Okhla area of southeastern Delhi.
Source: aajtak
Each year as chill sets in, the seasonal festivities in October and November serve as a stark reminder of the catastrophic air and water pollution enveloping Delhi. The Yamuna is one of the primary water sources for Delhi, yet its contamination makes the water unfit for bathing or agricultural irrigation.
Source: aajtak
Several factors contribute to the foam formation near the Okhla Barrage. Aquatic weeds in the barrage's catchment area release surfactants. Untreated sewage from 18 drains empties into the river. The issue escalates when industrial waste from sugar and paper mills in Uttar Pradesh is dumped into the Hindon Canal, mixing with the Yamuna. Pollutants containing phosphates and detergent residues ensue in the formation of this toxic froth, blanketing the river.
Source: aajtak
Experts have declared the Yamuna 'dead' in Delhi, implying the water can't sustain aquatic life. Physicist Phanindra Paty from Banaras Hindu University says industrial waste raises water temperature, killing the microbes crucial to the ecosystem.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) measures oxygen needed to break down organic matter. High BOD indicates depleted oxygen levels, inadequate for aquatic life, leading to stress and death of organisms. Human and animal waste raises organic carbon in water, increasing BOD.
The Yamuna in Delhi is devoid of life
Delhi Pollution Control Board data up to June shows the BOD standard for the Yamuna is 3 mg/L or less. Only at Haryana's Palla did it meet the requirement with 2 mg/L. Elsewhere, BOD rose to alarming levels: 85 mg/L at Asgarpur, 50 mg/L at Okhla Barrage, and 47 mg/L at ITO Bridge.
The acceptable limit for dissolved oxygen is 5 mg/L or more. It only met this standard at Palla and Wazirabad. At ISBT Bridge, Nizamuddin Bridge, Okhla Barrage, and Asgarpur on the Agra Canal, dissolved oxygen was nonexistent. Low oxygen levels severely impact aquatic life in the river.
The Froth in Yamuna: Highly Detrimental
'In India, where rivers are revered as mothers and deities, witnessing toxic froth on Yamuna is heartbreaking,' says physicist Phanindra Paty. Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha explains, 'Post-monsoon, stagnant conditions and rising temperatures create ideal conditions for bubble formation. When the temperature drops in October, it stabilizes the froth. This foam harbors harmful organic substances that release toxic gases, blending into the atmosphere. Additionally, the froth emits organic particulate matter, contributing to harmful air quality.'
