Yamuna dirtier in May, pollution load in major drains increases too | India News

NEW DELHI: The pollution in the Yamuna spiked in May with a considerable rise in fecal ranges, phosphates and ammonia. Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s month-to-month evaluation exhibits that whereas the river was extra polluted at its exit from town at Asgarpur, it additionally entered town at Palla with substantial pollution ranges.The samples of the river have been collected on May 1, a day earlier than town recorded heavy rains. The pollution load in major drains like Maharani Bagh, Shahdara and Najafgarh additionally elevated in May.According to DPCC, whereas fecal coliform has elevated since final month, the river additionally recorded a spike in ammonia, with the ammoniacal nitrogen ranges doubling to five.7mg/litre from 2.3mg/l final month. The fecal coliform degree studying was 23 lakh MPN/100ml in May, a lot larger than the 15 lakh MPN/100ml in April.Experts, nonetheless, have been involved concerning the numerous take a look at readings printed by DPCC. Pankaj Kumar, environmentalist and founding father of Earth Warrior, stated, “If fecal coliform is high, then biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) must also increase. However, we see that BOD at Nizamuddin Bridge is 37mg/l and fecal level is 2.4 lakh MPN/100ml. At the next station at Okhla barrage, BOD drops to 23 and fecal coliform increases to 3.3 lakh.DPCC must recheck this rather big anomaly. At Palla, the dissolved oxygen (DO) level is 9.8mg/l and BOD is 4, which seems a bit unlikely because for DO as high as 9.8, BOD must be 1-2mg/l.”Another professional identified that prime DO ranges upstream of Wazirabad might depict algal development. “If there is algal growth, then DO increases during the day and drops at night due to respiration. A DO of 9.8 mg/l appears out of proportion. Or it means there are nutrients like phosphate and nitrogen in the water. It is necessary, therefore, to carry out more testing,” the professional stated.A Delhi govt official added, “Also, at Wazirabad BOD in Feb was 9mg/l, 7mg/l in March and 6mg/l in April and May; these are not even standards for bathing water. Is Delhi Jal Board also monitoring this?” The permissible BOD for the Yamuna is 3mg/l.