River Yamuna is overflowing with bubbling thick foam and filth. Though it looks like snow, it is actually toxic froth full of residential and industrial waste whose foul stench could be smelt from a distance. The river is spilling over after Haryana opened its Hathinikund barrage.
The situation worsened after thousands of broken or semi-dissolved idols of Ganesha made of Plaster of Paris and coated with toxic chemicals such as mercury, cadmium, lead and carbon were immersed in the Yamuna on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi which commenced late last month.
Despite Central Pollution Control Board 2010 guidelines on idol immersion and the specific ban by the tribunal on immersion of non-biodegradable idols, there has been a complete failure on the part of the authorities to check the same.
The guidelines suggest that idol immersion should be allowed only of such idols that are made from biodegradable material and not plastic/Plaster of Paris. Also, the idols should be painted in only those colours that are environment-friendly.
In July, the water level of the Yamuna river had crossed the danger mark, prompting authorities to evacuate people living in the low-lying areas. The National Green Tribunal had also formed a monitoring committee on the cleaning of the Yamuna and directed it to submit an action plan on the issue. The green panel had said pollution in the Yamuna was of serious concern as it was highly contaminated with industrial effluents and sewage.
The bio-oxygen demand of the river, a measure of organic pollution, every year reaches “dangerously high levels” after Ganesh Chaturthi. The continuous and unabated immersion of idols into the Yamuna river have caused complete choking of the river.
Last year, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it had removed around 80 tonnes of debris dumped on the Yamuna floodplains after idol immersion.
