New Delhi (NVI): The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) raised concern over rising pollution in Yamuna river and urged Delhi and other states to implement effective sewage treatment.
The board monitors water quality of river Yamuna and drains discharging into the river, observed froth formation and increase in ammonia levels in river Yamuna because of discharge of untreated sewage, the Ministry of Environment said in a statement.
“Non-operation of existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), improper functioning of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) installed by the industries and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) located on the banks of river Yamuna also contributed to the pollutants in the river,” it added.
The statement also informed that, at present 22 drains are being monitored, indicated that 14 drains are found untapped ,discharging sewage. These drains are in Sonia Vihar, Najafgarh, Shastri Park, Shahdara among others.
“While five drains are 100 per cent tapped with no flow at downward of interception observed and two of the drains were found tapped but overflow into river Yamuna was observed,” it said.
One of the drains has no flow at all. The board said this is due to partially or untreated discharge of sewage and industrial effluent containing phosphorus, many times, foaming is also observed.
The CPCB, took notice of this and asked Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to submit time bound action plan to ensure compliance to norms by Sewage Treatment Plant (STPs) and that no untreated sewage is discharged to these drains, the statement further said.
Apart from this, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been directed to take action against non-complying CETPs and industrial units. The State Pollution Control Boards of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have also been asked to take similar directions.
In view of the importance of the issues, reminders have also been issued to concerned agencies to submit action taken report by December 15, 2020, the statement added.
-RJV
