Ahead of Chhath puja, froth returns to Yamuna: 'It's toxic for the skin, eyes,' warns NGO head, as AQI hits 'very poor'
Reports of toxic foam floating on the Yamuna River have emerged once again this year. On Tuesday, foam was spotted in the Kalindi Kunj area, following similar sightings on Sunday. As the foam reappears and the air quality index (AQI) begins to rise, the political blame game is kicking off, just like it does every year.
Why does the Yamuna get frothy and how is it harmful?
Dinesh Kumar, the head of an NGO that regularly organises clean-up efforts at the Yamuna Ghats on weekends, voiced his worries about the current state of the river. He stated, "There is a lot of foam in the river, which has made it toxic for the skin as well as the eyes. We face difficulties in the cleaning process... The untreated sewage water released into the river has caused a rapid decline in water quality."
The frothing seen in water bodies is a result of high pollution levels caused by surfactants, phosphates, and organic waste from untreated sewage and industrial discharges, rendering the water unsafe for human use and recreation.?
This situation is particularly alarming with Chhath Puja approaching on November 5, when devotees traditionally take holy dips in water bodies.
Delhi air pollution: The national capital's current AQI
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's air quality plummeted to the 'very poor' category on Tuesday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 385 recorded around 8:00 am.?
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has indicated that the daily average AQI is expected to remain in the "very poor" range (AQI 301-400) in the coming days due to unfavourable weather conditions and the festive season approaching.
In response to the deteriorating air quality, Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented in the city.?
This plan includes an 11-point action plan aimed at combating air quality issues across the National Capital Region (NCR).
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