Delhi releasing polluted water into Yamuna: Haryana official

Faridabad, Nov 16 (UNI) The Haryana government has expressed concern over the level of pollution in the Yamuna river and has pointed out that Delhi has been releasing highly polluted water downstream of Wazirabad Barrage into the river which is having Biochemical Oxygen Demand BOD of upto 43 mg per liter.

The BOD level at Wazirabad in the territory of Haryana was less then 2 mg per litre, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Irrigation, Mr R N Prasher said here today.

Interacting with mediapersons here, he said that this highly polluted water reaches Okhla from where it flows into Agra Canal of Uttar Pradesh and Gurgaon feeder canal of Haryana. This water is not even fit for irrigation and is very toxic and injurious to health of animals and human beings who come into direct contact with this water, he added.

Mr Parasher said that Haryana has been raising this issue of highly polluted water being released by Delhi without carrying out proper treatment at various fora including the Government of Delhi, Union Ministry of Water Resources and Central Water Commission.

However, the situation was getting worse day by day, he added.

He said that Haryana had repeatedly urged Delhi not to put untreated water in Yamuna and our canals. "We had also offered to set up treatment plants in Haryana if Delhi bears the capital and maintenance cost and we suggested them to put aerators on their drains so that foul smell in Delhi gets diminished and water which comes to Haryana, Uttar Pardesh and Rajasthan is somewhat better in quality, but Delhi did not accept any of these suggestions", he added.

Mr Parasher said that keeping this in view, Haryana has decided to install aerator in the Gurgaon feeder canal in order to bring the BOD level of this water to the permissible limit. The cost of installation of these aerators after every km on the canal and its subsequent portion and maintenance cost should be borne by the Government of Delhi, he added.

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