“Chhath Puja and Yamuna: Claims and Counterclaims in the Drama River Foam”
In view of Chhath Puja, Yamuna river has once again been covered in poisonous white foam, triggering a battle of claims and counterclaims between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
As the Chhath Puja festivities begin, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has stepped in and deployed ten boats to spray defoamers in the Yamuna, aiming to clear the dangerous foam that spreads in the river every year. The festival, where devotees wade knee-deep in water to pray, has raised concerns over water safety.
AAP, which is in charge of the efforts, claims that they are using food-grade chemicals and enzymes to deal with the foam, thereby ensuring a hygienic environment for worshippers. However, the BJP alleged a different story, claiming that the chemical spraying was a ploy to hide the toxic foam rather than eliminate it.
Amid these claims and counterclaims, the Delhi government points fingers at neighboring state Uttar Pradesh for releasing polluted water into the Yamuna through the Okhla Irrigation Barrage. Experts blame the foam on untreated sewage, phosphates and surfactants flowing into the river through various drains in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
The controversy escalated when BJP MP Manoj Tiwari questioned the commitment of the Delhi government, saying that chemical spraying during Chhath Puja was threatening the river’s ecosystem and the well-being of both animals and devotees.
In this annual environmental drama, the Yamuna remains a symbol of an ongoing challenge, marked by pollution, untreated sewage and conflicting efforts to address the issue, all unfolding against the backdrop of important Chhath Puja celebrations.
