New Delhi, January 30 (IANS): The political tension surrounding the Yamuna River's contamination continues to intensify as Union Minister and BJP National President J.P. Nadda criticizes the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for what he claims is the party's ineffective governance, amid heightened allegations of water poisoning between political parties. The AAP, led by national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, has made stark accusations against the Haryana government, alleging deliberate actions to endanger Delhi's drinking water by releasing unacceptable levels of ammonia.
On January 29, Kejriwal described the situation as not merely a pollution issue but equated it to “mixing poison” with the water supply from Haryana. He stated, "Haryana has mixed poison in the water coming to Delhi from the Yamuna," asserting urgency as the ammonia levels showed alarming spikes. According to Haryana’s Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, this narrative is merely scapegoat politics just weeks before the Assembly elections.
According to Nadda, AAP's claims serve as part of its strategy to shift blame from its governance failures. He shared data illustrating how pollution levels peaked as the Yamuna enters Delhi, asserting, “For over 10 years, Arvind Kejriwal's government has delivered nothing but corruption and lies.” An infographic he posted depicts drastic rises in both Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and ammonia concentrations along the river's flow. At the entry point at Palla, BOD was measured at 2 mg/l and ammonia at 5.5 mg/l, but these figures soared to 47 mg/l and 56.1 mg/l respectively by the time the river reaches the Okhla Barrage.
The AAP has characterized ammonia as not just detrimental but perilous, stating it could provoke severe health hazards and possibly be fatal to human life. Kejriwal highlighted the logistical challenges faced by water treatment facilities, which struggle with ammonia levels exceeding 1 ppm. He was quoted saying, “High ammonia levels can cause irreversible harm, especially to young children.” Adding to the urgency, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has indicated complications could arise when chlorination occurs, potentially leading to toxic byproducts.
Despite various exchanges of blame, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has stepped in, demanding clarification from Kejriwal concerning his severe accusations. Kejriwal's earlier comments claimed the Haryana government’s actions amounted to “an act of war” against Delhi, raising alarms about public safety. The ECI's dissatisfaction with Kejriwal's response has led them to request more detailed evidence about these statements, particularly citing significant findings of ammonia levels already reported.
The issue has far-reaching implications on the health and environment, with ammonia's presence not limited to industrial effluents but also stemming from agricultural runoff and untreated sewage, especially from regions prior to the river entering Delhi. The World Health Organization emphasizes ammonia as harmful due to its toxic nature. Major pollution sources include dye units and lax agricultural regulation, and amid these, untreated sewage compromises overall water quality, particularly during dry periods.
On January 30, Kejriwal asserted his commitment to public health, challenging BJP and Congress leaders to consume the high ammonia water to demonstrate its safety. This act of solidarity was meant to clarify what he perceives as blatant disregard for the health of Delhi's residents, accusing opposing parties of leaving the city vulnerable through their governance.
Kejriwal lampooned Saini's recent media stunt where he attempted to showcase the water's safety but shortly recoiled, claiming, "If you can't even take a sip of this water, how can you expect Delhi's people to drink it?" This rapid back-and-forth between leaders has turned the Yamuna issue not just environmental but intensely political.
Yet, it is not solely political discourse; the tangible dangers intermingle with the political narrative as discussions around proposals for treatment facilities and action plans have stagnated, leaving citizens concerned as ammonia levels create serious public health perils.
The Delhi government proposed installing ammonia treatment technology at Wazirabad, yet this installation appears delayed, and the public is left pondering the sustainability of their drinking water amid rising ammonia levels. Increasing calls for transparency and accountability have been voiced from both sides of the aisle, as local residents grapple with the encroaching crisis overshadowing the city's water supply.
Coming forward, this situation needs urgent resolution as messenger or means of dilution to address the ammonia influx as well as intergovernmental collaboration to alleviate fears of hazardous water. Only time will tell how well Delhi's leaders can bridge their fleeting differences to secure the safety of one of their most precious resources: drinking water.