New Delhi: A thick layer of toxic froth resurfaced at the Yamuna ghat in Kalindi Kunj on Sunday, obscuring large stretches of the river and raising fresh concerns about its ecological health. The froth clung heavily to boats moored along the riverbank, with dust particles visibly embedded in it, while garbage including plastic, discarded bottles, flowers, chopped human hair, and blades littered the banks.
Environmentalist Pankaj Kumar, who conducts a cleanliness drive every Sunday at Kalindi Kunj, said the river’s pollution in December and January has worsened compared to levels before the Chhath festival in October. “During Chhath, there was a strong collective effort to clean the Yamuna. Had the government sustained that momentum, the river’s condition would have vastly improved in the months following,” he told PTI.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s (DPCC) latest water quality report, based on samples collected on December 3, 2025, recorded Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels of 25 mg/l at ITO Bridge, 24 mg/l at ISBT Bridge, and 17 mg/l at Okhla Barrage—far above the prescribed safe limit of 3 mg/l. BOD, a critical indicator of river health, measures the capacity of water to support aquatic life.
Fecal coliform bacteria levels, indicating sewage contamination, were measured at 92,000 MPN at ISBT Bridge, 54,000 MPN at Nizamuddin Bridge, and 35,000 MPN at ITO Bridge, against the desirable limit of 500 units per 100 ml and a permissible limit of 2,500 units per 100 ml set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The CPCB classifies BOD levels between 20–30 mg/l as “severe.”
On Thursday, a bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A. Senthil Vel, noted that the Delhi government’s report on liquid waste management identified the discharge of treated, partially treated, and untreated sewage through multiple drains as the main cause of Yamuna pollution, particularly between Wazirabad Barrage and Asgharpur village.
Pollution at Delhi’s Yamuna ghats poses serious health risks, with toxic froth emitting a strong stench. Atul Kumar of the Earth Warriors group said volunteers cleaning the Kalindi Kunj ghat every Sunday face these hazards, often observing people continue to dump waste directly into the river. “Public awareness about river pollution is low, and government measures are insufficient. Official restrictions and penalties for dumping waste exist but are rarely visible on-site, and most citizens do not check them online,” Kumar added, urging proper signage and stricter monitoring.
Vishwas Dwivedi, another Earth Warriors volunteer, highlighted the ecological impact of the toxic froth. “The froth blanket prevents sunlight from reaching the riverbed, degrading water quality. Aquatic plants, which act as natural filters by absorbing phosphates and sulphates, will die without sunlight, worsening contamination,” he said.
The CPCB and NGT have prohibited dumping waste into the river except at designated disposal sites and imposed a Rs 5,000 penalty under the “polluter pays” principle, but experts and volunteers say enforcement remains weak.
The recurring froth, garbage, and high pollution levels underscore the urgent need for sustained government action, public awareness, and stricter monitoring to restore the Yamuna’s ecological balance.
With PTI inputs