DELHI IS not only polluting the Yamuna but also illegally taking water from it. This is the missive of Uttar Pradesh government to the Central Water Commission (CWC) on measures being taken by the state government to make Yamuna pollution-free.
Principal Secretary, Irrigation, Manjit Singh, in a letter to the CWC chairman, said a large quantity of sewage was being released into Yamuna from drains located between Wazirabad and Okhala barrage in Delhi. In its order passed on February 18, the Supreme Court had directed the state governments of UP, Haryana, Delhi and Uttarakhand to take measures to make Yamuna pollution free.
Later a meeting of the officers of all the states was held under the chairmanship of CWC chairman at New Delhi. All the states were directed to implement the apex court directives and to expedite work.
An irrigation department officer said, "As per the inter-state agreement signed by all the four states in 1994, the states had to ensure that 829-cusec fresh water flowed in Yamuna between Tajewala (Haryana) and Delhi. But during inspection it was found that merely 160-cusec fresh water was available in the river.
All the states were directed to ensure availability of fresh water in the river as per the agreement", he said. Singh said since sewage was released into Yamuna by Delhi, only polluted water was left in Okhala barrage.
"Though, Delhi Jal Board says it is a return flow of Yamuna, in reality it is mere effluent and sewage," he said. "The UP government draws water from Yamuna to release it into Agra canal.
This water was being used for domestic as well as agriculture use in both Agra and Mathura towns. The polluted water was having an adverse effect on the health of the people as well as crop production," he added.
"Though the court had directed the Delhi government to establish a tertiary treatment plant using natural technologies for recycling sewage water into a water source fit for domestic use, the Delhi Jal Board has put the proposal of tertiary treatment on the backburner," an officer said.
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