Delhi Awaits Ammonia-Management Plant At Wazirabad Amid Blame-Recreation Over Soiled Yamuna – News18

Final Up to date:January 28, 2025, 18:08 IST

In 2023, the AAP authorities introduced that it’ll arrange an ammonia-control plant on the Wazirabad water-treatment plant. Nonetheless, probe revealed that even the awarding of labor isn’t finished but

The air pollution in Yamuna has but once more taken the centre-stage because the nationwide capital gears up for meeting polls subsequent week. The ammonia ranges within the river, as per outgoing chief minister Atishi, have reached 7.2 ppm, far exceeding the treatable limits of 1 ppm.

Whereas Atishi claimed that “Haryana is sending toxic water to Delhi”, News18 did a verify on the promised ammonia-control plant at Wazirabad, solely to be taught that even the awarding of labor isn’t finished but.

In 2023, the AAP authorities introduced that it’ll arrange an ammonia-control plant on the Wazirabad water-treatment plant. The plant was deliberate to permit the therapy of the Yamuna water even when the ammonia degree is excessive.

Nonetheless, upon investigation, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officers mentioned there is no such thing as a such plant in Wazirabad and “no such work has been awarded by DJB thus far”.

An expression of curiosity (EOI) was issued by the DJB in January 2024 however since then, there was no replace, the official mentioned, searching for anonymity.

The DJB within the EOI mentioned it faces a major problem within the type of excessive ammonia ranges within the Yamuna river water, which straight impacts the water therapy and thereby provide to varied elements of Delhi.

They mentioned the ammonia degree within the Yamuna water can rise, impacting water manufacturing on the Chandrawal and Wazirabad water-treatment vegetation that draw water from the river by way of the pond.

“The frequency of excessive ammonia ranges within the Yamuna water has elevated in current months, and it now not subsides because it used to. DJB meant to have an in-situ therapy system to deal with greater ranges of ammonia on the Wazirabad pond. The proposed know-how is anticipated to scale back ammonia ranges as much as 2 ppm, even when the enter ammonia focus is as excessive as 4.0 ppm,” they mentioned.

The know-how was anticipated to boost the water therapy capability on the Wazirabad and Chandrawal WTPs and assist DJB tackle the challenges posed by the rising ammonia ranges within the Yamuna river water, they mentioned.

‘Poison Water’ Controversy

Atishi on Monday blamed Haryana for the scenario and added that the BJP is purposely poisoning Yamuna with ammonia-laden water by way of the DD-8 drain.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal identified that the BJP has resorted to soiled politics of an unprecedented scale, endangering lives in Delhi as they’re set to face defeat within the meeting elections. “If the folks of Delhi will not be voting for the BJP, will you kill them by making them drink poisoned water?” he questioned.

Curiously, whereas the AAP has blamed it on elections, its authorities in March 2021 approached the Supreme Courtroom in opposition to the Haryana authorities over the problem of excessive ammonia ranges within the water provided by way of the Yamuna and its channels. Additional, in the previous few years, this has emerged as a sample.

To know the upper degree of pollution in Yamuna, and why this happens, News18 spoke to officers of the Delhi Jal Board, chargeable for offering potable water to town.

A senior official from the physique mentioned that whereas the ruling occasion in Delhi, AAP, is utilizing elections and blaming the ruling occasion from Haryana, BJP, the very fact is that this occurs virtually yearly and there may be nothing new in ammonia ranges impacting water provide in Delhi.

“In December 2024, virtually for all the month, the extent of ammoniacal nitrogen was above 1 ppm. Even in January, it’s above 1 ppm. This occurs yearly, however we handle to proceed the provision of water to Delhi, though it does get impacted to some extent. We preserve the areas knowledgeable concerning the scenario and so there is no such thing as a panic among the many public,” a second official mentioned.

They defined that this wanted a long-term answer and never blame-game.

Quickly after Kejriwal and Atishi claimed “poison in water” referring to ammonia, the DJB issued a counter assertion, calling it “false, deceptive, and factually incorrect”. The DJB additionally mentioned such alarmist statements quantity to fear-mongering.

How Delhi Will get Water and its Remedy Course of

The Delhi Jal Board is chargeable for the manufacturing and distribution of potable water. It takes and treats uncooked water from Yamuna, Bhakra Storage, Higher Ganga Canal and Groundwater. The DJB additionally gives therapy and disposal of waste water.

The uncooked water from Yamuna must be handled earlier than it’s provided throughout town. There are a selection of water therapy vegetation in Delhi that cleans the water and makes it appropriate to be used.

The vegetation of the DJB, one other official defined, are designed to deal with uncooked water with as much as 1 ppm of ammonia. However they handle as much as sure greater ranges as nicely.

“When the ammonia ranges are above 1 ppm, the uncooked Yamuna water is diluted with cleaner water from Canals. In any other case it will likely be troublesome to fulfill the water requirement within the metropolis,” they mentioned.

In 2019, the air pollution ranges turned so excessive that Chandrawal and Wazirabad Water Remedy vegetation needed to cease operations utterly.

Annual Downside

On being requested why that is an annual difficulty, they defined that besides within the monsoon, the water move within the river is low. They mentioned that when the river has sufficient water, the air pollution degree is routinely managed however as quickly because the river shrinks, the pollution affect the water high quality.

“The river swells in monsoon and so the water is routinely diluted. However throughout different months, the water is much less and the focus of pollution will increase,” they defined.

A former DJB official mentioned states are permitting industries to dump untreated waste within the river and that’s the fundamental supply of water air pollution.

“Yamuna is likely one of the worst victims of business air pollution. The perfect answer to manage air pollution in Yamuna is to verify the discharge of untreated industrial waste. The events ought to present a powerful political will in opposition to industries polluting rivers, in any other case they need to do politics on the time of election,” they added.

The elections will likely be held in Delhi on February 5 whereas the counting of votes will likely be on February 8.