Thread by @iamkausthubh

#THREAD on #Yamuna

Firstly, #YamunaPollution is not a state-specific issue. Stakeholders - Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the Central Governments. #Yamuna is not a #Delhi river. A very small 50 KM of the massive 1400 KM passes through the NCR, yet is only Delhi responsible?

Any river has the ability of self-purification if left alone. #Delhi Govt is creating a robust infrastructure for the treatment of big drains that flow into #YamunaRiver. Still, they should've also planned quick-fix solutions for immediate action, which they did not. #Yamuna

The Government of Delhi is focusing on a long-term, much-needed solution (by 2023-24), but there should've been short-term solutions as well. #YamunaPollution has been an issue for many decades, and hardly anyone has done anything about it.

About the recent outrage on the layers of white toxic foams in #Yamuna, harmful chemicals are indeed present in most of the areas in Delhi, but the pictures of massive layers of foam are from Kalindi Kunj (the border area of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh).

Why is it that we see it only in that area? Foam formation takes place at two locations – downstream of the ITO and Okhla barrages. The pictures emerging in the last few days are near Kalindi Kunj, downstream of Okhla Barrage which comes under the Irrigation Department of the UP.

Of 155 MGD water that reaches the Okhla barrage with various chemicals and detergents, 105 MGD is released by the Haryana Govt into the Yamuna through the Najafgarh drain and 50 MGD is released by the UP Govt. The water falls from a height, so the untreated waste turns into foam.

It is important that all the governments come together to solve this issue. On inter state matters, it is very natural to expect the Centre to step in.

Regardless of this, we can expect the Government of NCT of Delhi to finish a major part of the project by 2023. #Yamuna

*the UP government