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Causes of Pollution on Yamuna River in New Delhi

Manish Kumar Verma

2019174
IIIT Delhi
ESC207A : Ecology, Evolution and Environment
Atreyee Bhattacharya
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Introduction

The Yamuna forming the eastern boundaries of the city is called the Lifeline of Delhi. But
among the most polluted rivers in India is the Yamuna, a major tributary of the Ganges,
which originates from the Yamunotri glacier near Banderpoonch peaks. For domestic,
industrial, and irrigation purposes, river water is extensively harnessed from both
Yamuna's banks. The biggest concern is that its water quality is critical in urban areas like
Delhi. The leading cause of decreases in water quality is the discharge of untreated
wastewater. This study is aimed to analyze the cause of corruption in the river Yamuna
and how it can be reduced.

Causes Of Pollution

There are various emission sources that can lead to severe pollution, such as dumping
waste materials, agricultural pollution, offering flowers or food, immersion of idols, and
various instream uses of water such as the washing of clothes, open defaecation, and
cattle bathing(Singh & Kaushik, 2018). However, industrial sledge discharges
indiscriminately into the river cause severe damage, and there has been significant mixing
of domestic wastewater with free-flowing obnoxious effluents, which contain pesticide
residues, multiple levels of heavy metals, disinfectants, and the byproducts of those
chemicals, severely affecting the ecology of the river(Laxmi et al., 2015). It is common to
dump dead humans and animals directly into the river or to cremate them there. Sand
mining is making the riverbed unstable also causing damage to the riverbanks. The
existence of heavy metals also causes a threat to aquatic species and native people who
are dependent on the river for a regular water supply. And with the rapid growth and high
population density in Delhi, the situation has become increasingly out of control.

Ways to Reduce of Pollution

Although there are numerous schemes and policies, such as Phase I, II, and III of The
Yamuna Action Plan, an improvement can be seen. But the water is still contaminated
with hazardous elements like lead, cadmium, nickel, zinc, which are a threat to human
and aquatic species. These are the possible policies and strategies by which quality and
Yamuna Water can be improved:
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1. By drainage water management and treatment.

2. By promoting wastewater technologies and treatment.
3. Recycling and Reuse of wastewater.
5. Improving the sewerage system.
6. Proper disposal of Sewage.
7. Agriculture Practices should be improved (using fewer chemical fertilizers, pesticides,
etc.)
8. Formation of Public Toilets
9. Formation of Holy bathing ponds.
10. Awareness among people and urging them not to throw garbage and other pollutants
in the river.
(Misra, 2010)

Conclusion

This paper summarizes the current state of the water of the Yamuna River and the
principal reasons for its pollution and suggests a few feasible and practical measures or
approaches that can be taken to prevent worsening of the river's water quality and ensure
better river water supply. It's time to realize that the river must be cleaned, protected, and
some steps need to be taken to reduce the amount of biological and metallurgical
pollution deposited into it.
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References

Laxmi et al, R. (2015). Assesment and Impact of Industrial Effluents on River Yamuna
Ecosystem. International Journal of Current Research, 7(9), 19956-19963.
https://www.academia.edu/36225772/ASSESSMENT_AND_IMPACT_OF_INDU
STRIAL_EFFLUENTS_ON_RIVER_YAMUNA_ECOSYSTEM?from=cover_pa
ge

Misra, A. (2010). A River about to Die: Yamuna. J. Water Resource and Protection,
2, 489-500.
https://www.academia.edu/1814611/A_River_about_to_Die_Yamuna?from=cover
_page

Singh and Kaushik, S and S. (2018). Qualitative study of Yamuna water across the Delhi
stretch. International Journal of Advanced Research, 6(5), 1127-1138.
http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/7138