Heavy flow from Uttar Pradesh caused foam on Yamuna: Delhi Environment Minister

Amid political uproar over toxic foam in the Yamuna during Chhath Puja, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai claimed that the speedy flow of the river from Uttar Pradesh is the cause behind the thick foam formation atop the river in the national capital.

“High-speed river flow from UP is the main cause of the foam formation over the river in Delhi, especially in the Kalindi Kunj area,” he said, quoting the scientists of the Delhi Jal Board.

The Delhi Environment Minister cited multiple reasons as a cause for the increase in the pollution levels during the winter season in the national capital and its nearby areas.

He further asserted that the pollution level in Delhi NCR is likely to reach over 400 from November 1. The Minister further assured that a monitoring committee will be formed to keep a watch over the construction works that are in progress despite the imposition of a ban in the wake of the deteriorating air quality of the National Capital Region.

Amid the rise in pollution levels in the national capital after Diwali, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed a ban on construction work in NCR and adjoining areas on Saturday. The Commission said that construction work other than the one of Central Vista need to be stopped amid the rising pollution levels.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) sub-committee decided to implement Stage III of GRAP in the entire NCR in a move to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

The environment minister further took a jibe at the Central Government accusing it for the stubble burning in Punjab. "Punjab government is ready to give financial support to the farmers after banning stubble burning but it is the Centre which is not ready to contribute to it monetarily,” he said.

The decision of the Delhi government to ban firecrackers was also criticised by the BJP and they are also not letting the onset of campaign 'Red light on, Gaadi off' here.

"BJP is also restricting the Red Light On, Gaadi Off campaign, despite the fact that it helped bring pollution down to 15 per cent levels in the national capital in the previous year," he said.

Further mentioning about the cleanliness of Yamuna, Rai emphasised on the five years' time sought by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal stating that such a "huge problem cannot be resolved in two days."

To address the deteriorating air quality of the National Capital Region, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the CAQM in NCR and adjoining areas held an emergency meeting on Saturday.

This meeting was conducted after the third phase of GRAP in Delhi NCR. While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters during the meeting, the Commission noted that due to unfavourable meteorological conditions with slower wind speed and sudden spike in farm fire incidents, it is considered necessary to implement Stage III of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR.