Highly polluted Yamuna causes water supply disruption across Delhi

The Delhi Jal Board announced on Wednesday, January 12 that water supply will be affected in large parts of the Delhi NCR again from the evening of January 12 to the morning of 13 January 2022 due to an increase in ammonia pollution in the Yamuna river impacting operations at treatment plants.

High ammonia levels in the Yamuna due to discharge of pollutants from Haryana has led to a 50 per cent reduction in production at Wazirabad, Chandrawal, and Okhla water treatment plants which will affect supply in several parts of the national capital, officials said.

Due to continuous discharge of high levels of pollutants from Haryana, the ammonia level in river Yamuna at Wazirabad Barrage has increased and water production has been curtailed from water treatment plants at Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla," the DJB said in a statement.

Press Note !
Water supply will remain affected in the Evening of 12.01.2022 and Morning of 13.01.2022 and so on till the ammonia level in river reduces to treatable limit, in the following areas.
Civil lines, Hindu Rao Hospital and adjoining areas
,Kamla Nagar

— Delhi Jal Board (@DelhiJalBoard) January 12, 2022

Snigdha Banerjee, Residents of Greater Kailash, says, "I believe DJB has taken the right decision as till ammonia levels don't decrease in water it makes no sense to get toxic water supply. It's high time we all take responsibility to keep our water and air clean. Otherwise, this is what will happen(in future)."

She added, "As we know that shortage is imminent, we must save every drop of water. We all should practice saving water."

Anjali Singh, Resident of the cantonment area, says, "Right now we are not facing any issues related to water. But then again if it persists, it will be very problematic. I have my grandparents at my house. My grandmother is bedridden. Plus, Covid cases are increasing every day, how are we supposed to tackle water crisis issues amidst everything?"

According to the notice, the areas affected are Civil lines, Hindu Rao Hospital and adjoining areas, Kamla Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Karol Bagh, Pahar Ganj, and NDMC areas, Old & New Rajinder Nagar, Patel Nagar, Baljeet Nagar, Prem Nagar, Inderpuri, Kalkaji, Govindpuri, Tughlakabad, Sangam Vihar, Ambedkar Nagar.

Apart from these, Prahladpur, Ramleela Ground, Delhi Gate, Subhash Park, Model Town, Gulabi Bagh, Punjabi Bagh, Jahangirpuri, Moolchand, South Extn., Greater Kailash, Burari and adjoining areas, parts of Cantonment areas and South Delhi may also face disruption.

Hitansh Gaur, a resident from Okhla, says, "This has been a huge problem for many years. We have to face this problem every few months and the government has been incompetent with solving the water quality and supply issues. To live a day without water is always difficult but in the present scenario of a pandemic, it has just gotten worse. People are already facing difficulties to keep their livelihood going to be forced to deal with a water crisis. The government should be answerable for this."