Toxic Foam Floats Over Indian River Yamuna Due To Air Pollution In National Capital
As air pollution in India’s national capital remains in the ‘poor category’, a thick layer of toxic foam enveloped the Yamuna River recently. As per experts, the reason behind the ‘toxic’ foam was high phosphate content following the discharge of toxic industrial pollutants including detergents into the river. The Yamuna River is one of North India’s most important water sources and the largest tributary of the Ganga. In Delhi alone, its waters are responsible for sustaining the lives of millions. Unfortunately, industrial pollution and human apathy have led to this once pristine river looking like a dystopian hellscape instead.
The re-emergence of toxic foam on the Yamuna’s surface coincides with a period of increasing air pollution in Delhi. As per the Air Quality Index, Delhi’s air quality was measured as “poor” this week. And even as the air quality dips, pollution rears its head in the waters as well. The capital city is currently dealing with two environmental crises unfolding simultaneously. The froth formation occurs as detergents with high phosphate content start collecting on the surface of the river after passing through untapped drains. Such detergents are industrial as well as domestic waste and flow from dhobi ghats, dyeing industries, and households.
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), Delhi’s overall air quality recoded 305 (very poor) in the day-time. An AQI between 0-50 is marked good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor and 401-500 is considered severe. To tackle the rising air pollution, Central and state government have taken some steps to combat the health emergency but the air quality has been recorded ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ this month. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had also predicted that Delhi will continue to witness ‘poor’ air quality for some days.
While the Yamuna got a respite from all the pollution earlier this year thanks to the national lockdown, those days seem to be in the past. As recently as April this year, the Ministry of Jal Shakti was sharing photos of the scenic Yamuna appearing clean, healthy, and pollution-free, along with a message to keep it that way. Unfortunately, that didn’t last long.