On Friday, the Yamuna river in Delhi was covered with a thick layer of white froth, raising health concerns among experts, particularly with the festive season approaching.
Videos shared on social media showed large portions of the river blanketed in froth, creating a cloud-like appearance over the water, which eventually subsided later in the day.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stated that the city government is actively monitoring the situation.
"Officials have already begun sprinkling defoamers to tackle the issue and the government is actively taking steps to manage and resolve the situation," the party said in a statement.
Bhim Singh Rawat, associate coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), told PTI that normally, the upper segment of the Yamuna experiences significant flood spells, but this year, there was no such spell during the just-concluded southwest monsoon.
"This is unusual as the river generally witnesses at least a couple of low or medium flood spells in this segment every year," Rawat said.
He said that pollution in the Yamuna is a significant issue, impacting both human health and wildlife.
Although the river possesses some natural ability to cleanse itself, pollution levels remain dangerously high, Rawat noted. He added that the white froth observed during this year’s monsoon becomes even more prominent during festival seasons.
The AAP said government engineers have been assigned to oversee the operations at the Okhla and Agra Canal barrages. "Monitoring the timings of the barrage gates' opening and providing regular updates to higher authorities," it said.
The engineers have been tasked with uploading photos of the Yamuna downstream at Kalindi Kunj every two hours to ensure continuous observation, it added.
Experts have urged the government to address the pollution levels in the river, especially as major festivals like Chhath Puja are approaching.
The pungent foam contains high levels of ammonia and phosphates, posing serious health risks, including respiratory and skin problems, according to environmental experts.
This kind of foam formation is common when fats from decaying plants and pollutants mix with the water, but its presence during monsoon is surprising, said another expert, attributing the frothing to the absence of flood spells that typically wash away pollutants.
Follow us
