Chhath Puja, a significant Hindu festival where devotees fast and offer prayers to the Sun God, is facing an unprecedented challenge this year. The Yamuna, a vital lifeline for Delhi and a tributary of the Ganges, has become a battleground for environmental distress as frothy industrial waste and sewage transform the sacred river into a hazardous mess.
The Yamuna experiences a pollution predicament with a toxic foam laden with ammonia and phosphates in the days leading up to the Chhath Puja celebrations. This toxic concoction poses severe health risks, compounding the already dire air quality crisis in New Delhi. With pollution levels exceeding permissible limits, the toxic foam adds another layer of concern to the environmental woes the city is grappling with.
Political Pointing Fingers:
Delhi Minister Atishi Marlena, on a mission to rescue the Yamuna, has boldly declared plans to clear the toxic froth within the next one or two days. However, she places blame on the neighboring Uttar Pradesh government, demanding they address their contributions to the polluted waters.
As the city battles hazardous pollution levels, the toxic foam becomes an additional challenge, prompting a political blame game. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expresses concerns about the impact on Chhath celebrations, with Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari attributing the pollution to the Najafgarh drain. Tiwari advocates for designating cleaner sections of the river in Haryana for prayer activities. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva echoes these concerns, emphasizing the disturbance caused to devotees preparing for Chhath by the foam spread over the Yamuna.
Delhi Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely joins the chorus, accusing the government of neglecting the Yamuna cleanup while engaging in publicity stunts. He expresses sorrow that thousands of Poorvanchalis will have to perform the Chhath Puja in what one can only describe as a polluted bubble bath.
In response to the crisis, the Delhi Jal Board plans to deploy defoamers at the Okhla barrage, aiming to reduce the froth volume in the Yamuna. However, the urgency of environmental concerns emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts to address the pollution crisis in the region.
Conclusion:
As the toxic Yamuna River takes center stage in political discourse, the upcoming Chhath Puja celebrations are overshadowed by environmental concerns. The pressing need for coordinated efforts to address the pollution crisis is evident, calling for immediate action to ensure the safety of both the sacred river and the festivities it hosts.