Watch: How Delhi govt is controlling toxic froth over Yamuna for Chhath

Much to Twitterati’s amusement, one of the videos shared by news agency ANI shows a Delhi Jal Board employee sprinkling water into the river with a hose in a bid to dissipate the foam. Speaking to news agency PTI, a DJB official said that no other short-term measure would work. “Water sprinkling will break the froth. The air bubbles trapped in the froth will escape and the froth will dissipate,” he added.

#WATCH | “We are sprinkling water in the Yamuna to dissipate toxic foam,” says Ashok Kumar, Delhi Jal Board employee pic.twitter.com/4waL2VsM7T

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021

In another video from Delhi’s Kalindi Kunj, men can be seen putting up bamboo nets to keep the froth from floating towards the ghats.

#WATCH | Barricades being placed in the Yamuna to stop toxic foam from floating towards the ghat. Visuals from Delhi’s Kalindi Kunj. pic.twitter.com/QIvun5LPMJ

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021

The Delhi government has also deployed 15 speed boats to remove the froth with the help of ropes. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) with the help of the Irrigation Flood Control Department and Revenue Department has come up with this “temporary” measure. “Fifteen teams have been deployed to remove the foam in the river. The exercise will continue till the current frothing episode comes to an end,” an official said.

Delhi: Ahead of ‘Chhath Puja’, boats being used to clear-off toxic foam from Yamuna river. Visuals from Kalindi Kunj.

Delhi govt has deployed 15 boats in the river to dissipate toxic foam. pic.twitter.com/rhcnSok4U5

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021

However, Vikas Rai, chairman of Chhath Puja Samiti, Kalindi Kunj, expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s actions, saying, “boats, nets and water sprinkling won’t help. The froth will come back the minute you remove it. This is an eyewash so that the media doesn’t criticise the government over the pollution.” He added that the Delhi government was trying to “cover up its failure and the devotees are not bothered about the froth in the river.”

Last week, the DDMA, which is headed by L-G Anil Baijal, passed directions allowing the public celebration of Chhath Pooja at designated areas, which exclude any site on the banks of the Yamuna. However, following protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated that if the L-G and Delhi Police allow it, the BJP can celebrate the festival on Yamuna’s banks.