Yamuna river pollution: – INSIGHTSIAS

GS Paper 3:

Topics Covered: Conservation and pollution related issues.

 

Yamuna river pollution:

Context:

According to estimates made by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi generates 3,800 million litres of sewage per day. NMCG is looking into ways to prevent this.

 

Background:

The over 1,300-km-long Yamuna is among the most polluted rivers in the country and also provides water to more than half of the national capital.

• Just 2% or 22 km of Yamuna falls in Delhi, but 98 % of pollution in the Yamuna comes from the national capital due to untreated or semi-treated industrial effluents or sewage that is being discharged into the river in the 22 km stretch.

 

Why is Yamuna so polluted?

1. The sewage treatment plants of Delhi are major contributors of the Pollutants being discharged in the river.
2. Pollutants discharge from different types of industry is also a major issue.
3. Agriculture activities along the banks of the river in Delhi contributes to river pollution.
4. Agricultural waste and pesticide discharge from the Haryana field also contributes to the pollution.
5. The low volume of water flow in the river causes the pollutants to accumulate and raise the pollution level.

 

About Yamuna River:

• The river Yamuna is a major tributary of river Ganges.
• Originates from the Yamunotri glacier near Bandarpoonch peaks in the Mussoorie range of the lower Himalayas in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
• It meets the Ganges at the Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh after flowing through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
• Tributaries: Chambal, Sindh, Betwa and Ken.

 

Insta Curious:

Did you know that the Article 21, the right to clean the environment, and further, pollution-free water, has been protected under the broad rubric of the right to life?

 

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. River Yamuna Flows through how many states and UTs?
2. Tributaries of Yamuna.
3. Acceptable maximum limit of ammonia in drinking water?
4. Permissible level of Sulfate.
5. Desirable limit of hardness of water.
6. The desirable level of faecal coliform.

Sources: the Hindu.