State of Pollution in the Yamuna

7/29/2019 State of Pollution in the Yamuna

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Centre for Science and Environment, May 2009 1

State of pollution in the Yamuna

Introduction: While the Delhi government had been debating on what needs to be done

to clean the river, the pollution levels have only worsened. In its book Sewage Canal:How to Clean the Yamuna, published in 2007, the Centre for Science and Environment

reported that the Delhi stretch of the river is not only dead but had an overload ofcoliform contamination. Two years later, the pollution data shows no respite to the river.

The 22-km stretch of the Yamuna, which is barely 2 per cent of the length of the riverbasin, continues to contribute over 80 per cent of the pollution load in the entire stretchof the river. There is also no water in the river for virtually nine months. Delhi, impoundswater at the barrage constructed at Wazirabad where the river enters Delhi. What flowsin the river subsequently is only sewage and waste from Delhis 22 drains. In otherwords, the river ceases to exist at Wazirabad. (See Map)

This also means that there is just no water available to dilute the waste. The issue of abasic minimum flow in the river has been discussed time and again, but with water

becoming more and more scare and contested, Delhis upstream neighbours arereluctant to release water. Delhi itself is water greedy and sucks up each drop that isreleased as its share. The river is then reduced to a drain for the filth and waste of thecitys inhabitants.

In 2005, YAP II at an estimated cost of Rs 380 crore was sanctioned for Delhi. The planwas to rehabilitate some 30.2 kilometers of defunct sewers by 2008. About 50 per centof the fund for Delhi, was to be spent on this. This works out to Rs 5.88 crore per km ofsewers rehabilitated. In 2006-2007 Delhi Jal Board introduced its pet interceptor planto lay over 60 kilometers of sewers along Najafgarh, Supplementary and Shahdaradrains. In the process of giving shape to the massive hardware programme nothingconcrete was done to arrest pollution in the river. Today, as the data of the Central

Pollution Control Board (CPCB) the pollution levels have only worsened. The CPCBmonitors the river at upstream of the Wazirabad barrage, at Nizamuddin (midstream)and downstream of Okhla barrage (after meeting the Shahdara drain).

It is clear that the Delhi Jal Board has failed to meet the directives and deadlines of theSupreme Court order in the and quiet flows mailee Yamuna in WP[C] 725/1994. TheCourt ordered the DJB to restore the dissolved oxygen levels to 4 mg/l in the river sothat it can be used atleast for bathing purposes.


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Map: From river to sewage canal

Source: Sunita Narain et.al, 2007, Sewage Canal: How to clean the Yamuna, Centre forScience and Environment, New Delhi


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Pollution trends: The following section analyses the pollution trends at three locations

in the river Palla (upstream), Nizamuddin (midstream) and Okhla after meetingShahdara drain (downstream)

Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Once the river flows past the city, there is no oxygen present

in the river. This had been the case for many years. But what is worrying is the fact thateven during monsoon, the river is not able to rejuvenate it self. During 2005 duringmonsoon, the DO levels at Nizamuddin (midstream) rose to 4 mg/l (October 2005)where as in 2007 observed levels were 2.1 mg/l (August 2007). The river recorded highlevels of dissolved oxygen before it enters the city at Palla (upstream point)theaverage DO level was almost 8 mg/l during 2008. (see Graph: DO levels in Yamuna2002-2008)

Graph 1: DO levels in Yamuna during 2002-2008 (River continues to remain dead)

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Yamuna at palla

Yamuna river at Nizamuddin

Yamuna river at Okhla after meeeting

Shahdara DrainMaximum permissible limit for bathing

Source: Compiled from the water quality monitoring reports of CPCB during 2002-2008

BOD: Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is an indicator of organic pollution. The

following chart establishes a clear trend in the fluctuations the annual average BODlevels. Here year 2005 emerges as a very important phaseit is from here on that theBOD levels have actually started to increase. Graph indicates that during 2002-2005, the

average BOD levels declined and since then started increasing. The average BODlevels reported by the CPCB during 2005 was 23 and 32 mg/l respectively at midstreamand downstream. This has increased to 39 and 59 mg/l respectively the first six monthsof 2008. The maximum permissible level of BOD for bathing is 3 mg/l. (see Graph 2:average BOD levels in Yamuna during 2002-2008)


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Graph 2: BOD levels in Yamuna

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Yamuna at palla


Yamuna river at Okhla after meeeting Shahdara Drain

Standard value

Initiationo

fYAPII

Maximum permissible for bathing


The graph below presents the BOD levels in the Yamuna during April 2007-June 2008.While the river is almost fit for drinking after treatment at upstream, the scenario is reallybad as it flows through the city. As a matter of fact, throughout the year the river is unfitfor any human purpose. It could also be seen that the BOD levels during summermonths (May & June) of 2008 were higher than the corresponding values for the

previous year. (Graph 3: BOD in the river during 2007-2008)Graph3: BOD in the river during 2007-2008

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Yamuna at palla



Standard value

June 2007

June 2008

Maximum permissible for bathing3 mg/l



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BOD load: An analysis of the BOD load (obtained by multiplying the volume of

wastewater by the BOD concentrations) clearly indicates that nothing has changed interms of pollution load in the river Yamuna. The BOD load increased from 117 tonnesper day in 1983 to 270 in 2008. (Graph 3: BOD load in the Yamuna 1983-2008)

Graph 4: BOD load in the Yamuna 1983-2008

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BOD Load (T/D)

AP IAP II

Source: Compiled from the water quality monitoring reports of CPCB; National RiverConservation Directorate and Delhi Jal Board

It is also interesting, though ironic, to note that the increase in the BOD load had beenproportional to the investments made. With time and investment, the pollution load in theriver has only gone up. The BOD load which was 117 tonnes per day (tpd) in 1980increased to 270 tpd in 2008 an increase which does not support the huge investmentsmade in this stretch.


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Graph 5: Comparison of investments and pollution load in Yamuna

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BOD load (T/day)

Note: 270 tonnes per day corresponds to Year 2008;Source: 1. National River Conservation Directorate 2. Central Pollution Control Board 3. Delhi Jal

Board

(See annexure 1: Month wise records of the BOD in the Yamuna during 2002-2008)

Coliform count

There is no doubt that the river is a cesspool for Delhis waste. A look at the

bacteriological contamination or high coliform count of the water confirms this.

At both upstream and downstream, the coliform counts have been increasing. Data forthe period January-June 2008, indicates that the total coliform levels at Palla (upstreamDelhi) were in the range of 32 to 1000 times higher than the maximum permissible levelof 500 mpn/100 ml specified for bathing purposes. It is this water that is treated andsupplied to Delhi.

The scenario becomes worse as the river traverses through the city. By the time the riveris midway through Delhi, the total coliform count increases so much that it is difficult tocount the zeroes. During June 2008, the total coliform levels were 103 millionmpn/100ml respectively at Okhla downstream. Corresponding values during 2007 were

5 milliona clear indication of an increase in untreated waste flowing downstream. InNovember 2007, at Okhla downstream the coliform levels were 640,000 times higherthan the maximum levels. (see graph 6; also see annexure: Coliform levels in theYamuna 2002-2008)


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Graph 6: No respitecoliform levels run into millions in the Delhi stretch of Yamuna

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Numberoftimeshighertha

npermissible

levelforbathing500mpn/100ml

Yamuna at palla


Yamuna river at Okhla after

meeeting Shahdara Drain

Source: Compiled from the water quality monitoring reports of CPCB

Annexures

Annexure 1: Month wise records of the BOD in the Yamuna during 2002-2008

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Yamuna at palla


Yamuna river at Okhla after meeetingShahdara Drain

Standard value



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Annexure 2: Coliform levels in the Yamuna 2002-2008

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MPN/100ml

Yamuna at palla



Maximum

Mximum permissible for bathing 500 mpn/100 ml


Documents

State of Pollution in the Yamuna