Despite barricades on ghats, Yamuna left a polluted mess after Chhath Puja

As the festival season came to an end on Friday with Chhath Puja, DNA visited the Kalindi Kunj Yamuna ghat to see the level of pollution caused by the devotees there. Apart from the usual chemical froth layer on the water of the Yamuna, there is now all kinds of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste lying on the ghats, including garlands, idols and frames of deities, plastic wrappers/bottles (containing oil), idols, diyas and cloth, among other things.

The mess remains despite the government barricading the river and ordering basic cleaning post the festival. Instead, the day saw a repeat of the Durga Puja festival when more than a hundred idols of the goddess were immersed in the already burdened river.

As per National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines, use of only biodegradable material is allowed at the ghats to be immersed in the river.

A Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) report last year had revealed a rise in biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels up to 30 mg/l at several ghats, even as dissolved oxygen levels plummeted to zero.

The standard BOD level for water bodies is 3mg/l. DO should be 4 mg/l, or higher. Yamuna's water quality is currently in the 'E' category, which makes it fit only for irrigation and industrial usage.