The Yamuna River is facing a significant environmental crisis as ammonia levels have surged alarmingly, creating dire repercussions for water supply to Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh escalated concerns by presenting an adjournment notice in the Rajya Sabha, urging the government to address the serious issue of increased ammonia contamination.
Singh claimed, "The ammonia levels in the Yamuna River have exceeded 7 PPM (parts per million), which is highly toxic. This has severely affected the production capacity of the Wazirabad water treatment plant. The people of Delhi depend on water supplied from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, but the water sent from Haryana contains alarming levels of ammonia." He explained how the water, contaminated by untreated sewage and industrial waste, is now classified as extremely harmful due to ammonia levels soaring to 700 percent above the treatable limit.
This unprecedented situation has led to reduced operational effectiveness of Delhi's water treatment plants, causing production to decline by 5% to 20%, impacting approximately 3.4 million residents. Singh attributed the crisis to unchecked disposal of waste from Haryana, accusing the state of deliberately tarnishing the image of the Delhi government.
"Not only is this negligence, but there's also a possibility of it being intentional," Singh insisted. The pollution causing the spike in ammonia contamination includes various pollutants such as fertilizers, dyes, plastic debris, and decomposing organic matter. He emphasizes the urgent need for immediate governmental intervention to help alleviate the water crisis affecting Delhi.
Addressing the issue, AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal shared his concerns directly with the Election Commission, making serious accusations against Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. He asserted, "The ammonia levels contaminant being supplied to Delhi are unprecedented and dangerously high." Kejriwal outlined how ammonia levels began to rise sharply from January 15, initially at 3.2 PPM, which alarmingly escalated to 7 PPM shortly thereafter.
Haryana's CM Saini, on his part, countered these allegations, stating there had been major funds—around ₹8,500 crore—allocated to construct sewage treatment plants (STPs) which have yet to be completed. To highlight the water quality discrepancy, Saini presented two samples: one collected from the Delhi-Haryana border at Palla Ghat, and another taken from the Wazirabad area of Delhi. Upon comparing the two samples publicly, he emphasized the substantial difference detected between the two water sources.
The situation has raised potent questions about infrastructure and environmental management between the neighboring states and its consequences for millions. Amid political backlash and public pressure, the need for regulatory frameworks and pollution control has never been more pronounced.
Experts warn of the increasing health risks associated with continuous exposure to high ammonia levels, calling for immediate recommendations to curb pollution and improve water quality. The environmental state of the Yamuna River not only reflects water quality issues but also poses systemic challenges for urban planning and public health.
The intertwining of political claims and the fundamental right to clean water for the residents of Delhi continues to fuel debates. Public sentiment remains high around the responsibility of state authorities and the necessity of swift policy reforms to mitigate such tragedies from deepening.
All eyes will be on the responsive measures taken by both the Arvind Kejriwal administration and the Haryana government, as residents remain vulnerable to the deteriorated water conditions. Only thorough accountability and comprehensive approaches can hope to tackle the alarming levels of pollution affecting the Yamuna River and the corresponding water crisis gripping Delhi.