No dolphins in this polluted Yamuna

Saurabh Sharma, from the banks of the Yamuna

Policemen stand at the Kalindi Kunj, on the banks of the river Yamuna, on the holy day of Chhatt Puja. That was November 11, when thousands of pilgrims arrived at the break of dawn, to offer salutations to Lord Surya and break their 36-hour ‘nirjala’ fast and take a dip. The water behind them is covered in snowy white peaks - not the mark of some winter wonderland but toxic foam, the results of “heavy sewage and industrial blight,” according to the Delhi government. The Yamuna is already one of the most polluted waterways in the country but in Delhi, where the river is a primary source of water supply, the situation is particularly grim. The Delhi government responded by sending out boats to dissipate the foam by ‘sprinkling water’ and setting up bamboo barricades to stop it in its progress. Even Vikas Rai, President of the Chhath Pooja Samiti in Kalindi Kunj has given up on the idea of the celebrations and the annual holy dip.
Pilgrims, however, are not so easily parted from their faith. Dressed in bright colours, they wade into their holy river, immersing themselves from head to toe, laughing and chattering as they do so. Some spread the foam over themselves, children fling it playfully in each other’s faces. The whole scene is surreal, almost dystopian. The foam itself is the result of untreated sewage, poisonous heavy metals and pesticides, to name a few. It has been apocalyptic for aquatic life - the river dolphin has all but disappeared. Birds flock to the water, but as a senior officer of the Sankat Mochan foundation in Varanasi, cautions, “Birds are a sign of a polluted river.” The pungent foam is caused, say experts, by increased levels of ammonia and phosphates - the former depletes oxygen in a process called eutrophication. Needless to say, this is adverse to all forms of life.
None of this comes from ignorance. The people know the dangers of wading into the water but for years, the foam has dampened Chhath Pooja celebrations. On November 10, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition seeking to allow Chhath Pooja celebrations in Delhi, on the banks of the Yamuna. Justice Rekha Palli, who heard the case, said the petitioner came too late for an alternative to be created. The orders were flouted by BJP’s Delhi President, Adesh Gupta, who arrived with his supporters to perform rituals at a ghat in Sonia Vihar. The Aam Aadmi Party and the saffron party have been involved in a years-long squabble over whether the foam comes from BJP-ruled UP and Haryana, or AAP’s Delhi. And year after year, as the controversy continues and nothing substantial is done and despite the many hazards the foam presents, caution is derided in favour of celebration.
The occurrence of toxic foam in rivers has raised concern on the health of rivers flowing in North India. “The toxic foam is a result of heavy metals and untreated water being dumped in the water,” say river scientists. According to D.S. Bhargava, a retired professor who has studied the Ganges, “It is not just the Yamuna. Several other rivers flowing across the country are in bad shape. The layer of toxic foam suggests that massive amounts of untreated water are being released into the river. Bathing, worshipping or any activity that involves physical contact with the water can lead to serious health hazards.” The veteran riparian scholar says, “Foam is formed when the river is in its lean phase. The government and other bodies need to check the sewage flowing into the river. This is a huge red flag for the people as the water is used for irrigation, drinking and other purposes.”
A senior officer of the Sankat Mochan foundation in Varanasi, who looks after the Ganges, told News Trail that the river contains large amounts of fecal content. “This is harmful to people and also to aquatic life,” he explains. “The presence of heavy lead in the river has led to the depletion of dolphins. Now, all we see are birds and mind you, the presence of birds is the sign of a polluted river.” The officer added, “The presence of lead and other heavy metals is also taking a toll on human life as people are being diagnosed with cancer.”