Delhi is facing a severe water crisis as rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna River disrupt supply across the national capital, a situation attributed to industrial waste allegedly flowing in from Haryana, according to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
With ammonia contamination exceeding 0.9 parts per million (ppm), far above the 0.5 ppm threshold for safe treatment, Delhi's water treatment plants (WTPs) at Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi are struggling to process raw water from the river.
Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Vice-President Vinay Mishra detailed the disruption, citing a 25-30 per cent drop in water output due to the high ammonia levels.
Mishra further criticised Haryana's handling of industrial waste, accusing the BJP-led state government of neglecting Delhi’s water quality due to political differences with AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
"The Haryana government has become hostile, disregarding the wellbeing of Delhi's people," Mishra alleged, affirming that the DJB is committed to finding a solution.
He announced plans to meet with Haryana officials to seek a resolution, noting, "Under Arvind Kejriwal's leadership, we are committed to ensuring clean water for Delhiites."
The Delhi Jal Board also revealed that maintenance work on the Upper Ganga Canal in Uttar Pradesh, which usually supplies raw water to the capital’s Bhagirathi and Sonia Vihar WTPs, has further stressed the situation.
The Upper Ganga Canal has been closed since October 12 for scheduled upkeep and is expected to reopen on October 31, leaving the Yamuna as the primary source for Delhi’s water supply in the meantime.
As AAP presses for solutions, the BJP Delhi unit countered, criticising AAP for failing to address Delhi’s water woes. Praveen Shankar Kapoor, a BJP spokesperson, accused the AAP government of neglecting water supply infrastructure, particularly during the festive season, despite sufficient rainfall.
Kapoor contended that the DJB failed to upgrade sewage treatment facilities to prevent wastewater from polluting the Yamuna and to equip key WTPs, including Sonia Vihar, Chandrawal, and Okhla, to handle ammonia contamination effectively.
The Delhi Jal Board has issued a water shortage alert, indicating that supply disruptions may persist until November 1 as ammonia levels in the Yamuna remain high.
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