Delhi Government Attributes Pollution Increase in Yamuna to Haryana's Industrial Waste
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New Delhi, Dec 23 (NationPress) Facing mounting criticism for its inability to purify the Yamuna, the AAP-led Delhi government on Monday pointed fingers at the BJP-led government in Haryana for not curbing industrial pollutants entering the river, which has resulted in significant disruptions to raw water treatment in Delhi due to high ammonia concentrations.
Delhi's Water Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj condemned the increase in industrial waste discharge into the Yamuna from Haryana, stating, "Two water treatment facilities in Delhi have been adversely affected, leading to a shortfall of 70-80 million gallons per day (MGD) in the city."
He questioned the BJP regarding its government's negligence in Haryana, which failed to establish water treatment plants to prevent pollutants from Sonipat and Panipat from contaminating the Yamuna river.
Bhardwaj, who oversees the Delhi Jal Board, mentioned that Delhi's Haiderpur and Wazirabad treatment plants have been compromised due to high levels of ammonia in the raw water, affecting drinking water supply in various areas of central and western Delhi.
"Ammonia levels in the Yamuna have surged to 3.5-4 parts per million (ppm), necessitating the shutdown of treatment plants due to the poor quality of raw water," he stated, alleging that in the last two days, drain number 1 and drain number 8, which carry industrial waste from Haryana's Panipat and Sonipat, have shown increased levels of toxic effluents.
Previously, Bhardwaj claimed that the overwhelming response to the registration of the AAP government's women financial assistance initiative in the city would herald a wave of electoral victories for the ruling party in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
The pro-AAP sentiment among voters in recent days is expected to make the upcoming election significantly more challenging for the BJP compared to the previous elections in 2015 and 2020, he added.
However, the BJP criticized the AAP's door-to-door registration campaign for two welfare schemes—Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana—accusing the party of resorting to "election gimmicks" ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
BJP leader and NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Chahal accused former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of making empty promises.
"Kejriwal pledged 500 new schools, 20 colleges, youth employment, free water, and electricity. None of these commitments have been fulfilled. Why is he making these announcements now after a decade in power? Will funds miraculously appear in people's bank accounts?" Chahal asked, labeling the welfare schemes as mere "election gimmicks."
