yamuna in delhi

DelhiDelhi

RIVER YAMUNA AT ORIGIN ‐ YAMUNOTRI

RIVER YAMUNA AT UTTARAKHAND

RIVER YAMUNA AT DELHIDELHI

The Yamuna river originates at gYamunotri in Uttarakhand.

The total length of the river from the Glacierriver from the Glacier to the Ganga Sanagm at Allahabad is aboutat Allahabad is about 1,300 km.

DELHI STRETCHWazirabad Barrage

The 22‐km stretch of the Yamuna in

lhi li bVikas Marg Bridge

Delhi lies between Wazirabad and the Okhla barrage

Nizamuddin Bridge

Okhla barrage.

Okhla Barrage

Rape Rape of the of the

RiverRiverRiverRiverinin DelhiDelhiinin DelhiDelhi

The 22 km stretch of

Sewage DisposalSewage Disposal

The 22 km stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi contributes over 80%contributes over 80%of the pollution load of the entire 1300 kmof the entire 1300 km river.

The stretch is barely 2% of the length of2% of the length of the river.

The Yamuna in Delhi – 22 sewage filled drains empty into the river

All waste of the city, domestic and industrial, whether treated or not flows through these drains and reaches the Yamuna.

The Najafgarh drain and the Shahadra drain are the two largest polluters of the river

Pic to come from CSDS

Sewage status of India 2005 40% of India’s sewage treatment capacity belongs to Delhi, yet a massive gap remains between sewage generation and treatment

3321235000

remains between sewage generation and treatment.

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0Sewage generation Installed capacity Untreated

Delhi Jal Board sewage generation estimate : 3632 MLDA l 1478MLDActual sewage treatment : 1478MLD

Which is only 64% of treatment capacity

The Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) remain grossly underutilised.

Three STPs (Ghitorni, Rohini and Keshopur‐I) do not treat even a drop of waste

The STPs release treated effluents into the nearby drains, which are already full of untreated and illegal sewage.

The river ceases to exist at Wazirabad

What flows subsequently is only the sewage and waste from Delhi’s 22 drains.

Ecological flowEcological flow

For the health of any river the amount ofFor the health of any river, the amount of water drawn out for usage must be limited. The

t d d i d f l i l flstandards required for ecological flow are completely disregarded in case of the Yamuna

in Delhi.

Micro‐pollutants like pesticides and heavy metals have been found in the water flowing in Delhi’s drains.

In 2004 high levels of Arsenic were reported in the Yamuna at OkhlaIn 2004, high levels of Arsenic were reported in the Yamuna at Okhla

Effluent discharge by factories Effluent discharge by factories ‐‐ film of poisonous foam and frothingfilm of poisonous foam and frothing

The frothy mix is so glaring it can be viewed on Google EarthThe frothy mix is so glaring it can be viewed on Google Earth

An idol of

The Holy River The Holy River ‐‐ film of poisonous foam and frothingfilm of poisonous foam and frothing

Goddess Durga being immersedimmersed near Okhla barrage amidst froth likefroth‐like sewage

Nigambodh Ghat, the city's public

CremationCremation

crematorium area

Yamuna as a Holy riverYamuna as a Holy river

Unregulated settlements on water edgeUnregulated settlements on water edge

However the amount of sewage generated by the slum population ‐ 30 % of the population accounts forslum population 30 % of the population accounts for merely 3.3 % of the total sewage generated by the

entire city population.entire city population.

It is the illegal, unregularised and unauthorisedIt is the illegal, unregularised and unauthorisedresidential and commercial colonies that are not

connected to the sewage system. Hence 50% of theconnected to the sewage system. Hence 50% of the sewage that enters the Yamuna is untreated.

Garbage dumped along the riverGarbage dumped along the river

Access to the river Access to the river –– blocked by garbage dumpsblocked by garbage dumps

Direct usage Direct usage –– bathing, washing clothes, defecating etc.bathing, washing clothes, defecating etc.

Water transportWater transport•Vegetable transport carried out in thermocol boatsS t b t t & di l i l il bl hi•Some government boats, steam & diesel engines are also available on hire

Water transportWater transport

Water transportWater transportBraving the stench, people take a boat ride in the Yamuna

Plastic collectorsPlastic collectorsPlastic collectors collect and sell plastic from the river to make a living

Plastic collectorsPlastic collectors

Plastic collectorsPlastic collectors

Thermocol from dumped garbage used for making boatsThermocol from dumped garbage used for making boats

Coin collectorsCoin collectorsCoin collectors in the polluted river

A cow and a man scrounging for leftover food A cow and a man scrounging for leftover food

Garbage and sewage flow in Yamuna's Garbage and sewage flow in Yamuna's QudsiaQudsia GhatGhat

Yamuna FloodplainsYamuna Floodplains

Delhi’s largest groundwater recharge zone

Covering the banks with impermeable concrete andCovering the banks with impermeable concrete and construction has threatened this groundwater

recharge zone

Illegal constructions on the floodplain ‐ Akshardhaml h lh d h

recharge zone.

Temple, the Delhi Government Secretariat and the Commonwealth Games Village ‐continue to exist.

Unplanned exploitation of precious groundwater has led to the

Groundwater exploitationGroundwater exploitation

decline of the water table by 2 to 8 m during the past decade.

The River is DeadOxygen level when river exits Delhi is almost zero, unable to

14Yamuna at palla

Yamuna river at Nizamuddin

ygsupport any aquatic life. It is even unfit for bathing.

12

Yamuna river at Nizamuddin

Yamuna river at Okhla af ter meeet ingShahdara DrainM aximum permissible limit for bathing

BOD)

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Even during monsoon, the river is not able to rejuvenate it self.

During 2005 during monsoon, the DO (Dissolved Oxygen) levels at Nizamuddin rose to 4 mg/l (October

2005) where as in 2007 observed levels were 2.1 mg/l (August 2007).

5 mg/l‐ the limit set for bathing water quality

Traditional value of the Yamuna in Delhi

In the olden days, Delhi received its main source of water from:water from:

• Shallow step wells dug on h fl d l fthe floodplains of Yamuna.

•Ponds locally called johadsy jthat had connection with the local streams, rivulets and their tributariestheir tributaries.

1818thth Century Century ––yyShahjahanabadShahjahanabad by the by the YamunaYamuna

1818thth Century Century –– The Yamuna flowing by The The Yamuna flowing by The RedFortRedFort

Water resources were managed by the community

River in India has always had the status of Mother.The Yamuna has been worshipped as app

Divine holy river.

The Yamuna is revered as source of civilisation. Tradition calls for prudence in use of it’s water. p

The river is no longer seen as a The river is no longer seen as a ggliving, breathing entityliving, breathing entity

Wh t h b dWh t h b dWhat has been done What has been done ??to clean the River?to clean the River?

Between 1995 and 2005 the government of Delhi has incurred a total expenditure ofhas incurred a total expenditure of Rs. 1100 to Rs. 1450 crore

on building sewage and waste treatment facilitieson building sewage and waste treatment facilities.

In addition, there has been planning and funding through YAP (Yamuna Action Plan).through YAP (Yamuna Action Plan). By 2006, capital investments totaling

Rs 1 188‐ 1 491 crore have literally gone down theRs. 1,188 1,491 crore have literally gone down the drain.

The YAP or any plan to control river pollution, has never looked at the 22 open stormwater drains, which flush out

Delhi’s waste into the Yamuna.

Even after the Supreme Court’s directive of achieving the minimum desired water quality of the river by March 2003, the pollution levels have only risen and the river has been classified dead.

Why should DelhiWhy should DelhiWhy should Delhi Why should Delhi save the Yamuna?save the Yamuna?save the Yamuna?save the Yamuna?

1. Fresh perennial water, for which the river must flow

2. Recharges the aquifers

3 Allows excess rainwater to drain out3. Allows excess rainwater to drain out

4. Beauty and recreation

A river is a symbol of identity for a region.

It is a community asset. River revitalization brings communities that depend on it back to life.

Flood Control

It provides public spaces which bring people together.

River floodplains recharge groundwater

Wh t d t bWh t d t bWhat needs to be What needs to be / f ?/ f ?done/ way forward?done/ way forward?

Recently Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saidRecently, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said

“...Our country is blessed with mighty rivers y g ythat are inextricably linked with our history, our religious beliefs, our culture and our customs of our

lpeople.

We have decided to adopt a different and more…We have decided to adopt a different and more holistic approach taking the river and not the city as the unit of planning...focus on catchment area p gtreatment, protection of flood plains, ensuring ecological flows and restoration of the river ecosystem...”

Yamuna Yamuna SatyagrahSatyagrah at Qudsia at Qudsia GhatGhat

The Yamuna Satyagrah began i A 2007 din Aug 2007 and pledged to save the Yamuna flood plains from encroachments.

24 hour dharnasare carried out toare carried out to keep the Satyagrah, alive h h llwhich goes on till

date at the Qudisa Ghat.Qudisa Ghat.

Save the FloodplainSave the Floodplain

R i t H tiRainwater Harvesting

A l i f ll i D lhi i b t ti l d th itAnnual rainfall in Delhi is substantial and the city area receives a normal rainfall of 611.8 mm in 27 i d ti t 193 MCM hi h hrainy days amounting to 193 MCM, which however

goes unutilised at the moment.

We need a new approach which is localisedand cost effective and also tries toand cost effective, and also tries to minimise the waste to be treated.

•Maximising utilisation of existing treatment facilities•Cleaning the drains in Delhi •Ensuring reuse of treated effluent (so that treated and untreated sewage do not mix)•Improving monitoring systems and setting progressive standards •Achieving dilution in the river.

Thank You

yamuna in delhi

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