“The situation continues to be far from satisfactory as far as water quality is concerned,” the National Green Tribunal (NGT) observed in an order issued Wednesday on the rejuvenation of the Yamuna river in Delhi. The tribunal referred to a status report on the rejuvenation of the river submitted by the Delhi government Wednesday to note that the dissolved oxygen level “is nil at most locations”. It also noted, “Fecal coliform is very high. Parameters of pH, COD (chemical oxygen demand) and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) are also exceeding except at Palla and Wazirabad upstream.” Noting the overall situation is “extremely disappointing till large-scale pollution remains unchecked”, the tribunal said “discharge of pollution in river and failure to implement repeated directions for coercive (action) against violators, including officers responsible for failure to prevent pollution, is practically lack of governance with no remedy to the suffering citizens”. The government’s report was submitted nearly six months after the tribunal had constituted a High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by the L-G to look into the river’s rejuvenation. Asking for another progress report to be filed by September 30, the tribunal has directed that Delhi Pollution Control Committee may place the report submitted on Wednesday before the HLC, which may take further action against violators and errant officers. The government’s report pointed to a reduction in pollution levels in terms of BOD at two points in the river compared to 2022, and the extension of sewerage network to a few more unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters, while a total of 245 MGD (million gallons per day) of sewage is still left untreated in the city. An action plan prepared by the Environment Department and approved by the committee in January had identified 8 points on which work was to be done. Pointing to the “goal of substantial reduction” in pollution levels in Yamuna by July 1, the NGT’s order issued in January said: “Success of the committee will be viewed by outcome in terms of reduction of pollution load and thus targets of the committee should be measurable and identifiable.” In the six months since the NGT’s order, the quantity of untreated sewage in the city has not reduced. The city’s STPs also still don’t operate at their full capacity — of a total capacity of 632 MGD, 547 MGD is being utilised. The tribunal’s order on Wednesday noted that 22 STPs are non-compliant with norms, and untreated or partially treated sewage continues to flow into the river.
