New Delhi: While the Yamuna is already hogging the headlines as worshippers were seen taking a dip in the river amid toxic foam on the occasion of Chhath Puja, a war of words broke out among the political gentry after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and vice-chairman of Delhi Jal Board Raghav Chadha said Delhi’s polluted water is a “gift” from the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana government.
“The foam in the Yamuna is at Okhla Barrage area, which comes under UP irrigation govt, it's UP govt's responsibility. But like every year, they failed this year too...The polluted water is not Delhi's, it's a 'gift' to Delhi by UP, Haryana govt,” Chadha said, while talking to ANI.
While Chadha blamed the state governments of UP and Haryana for releasing untreated water in the Yamuna, BJP claimed that the Delhi government did not allow Chhath Puja celebrations to hide the “pathetic” state of the river. BJP leader Manoj Tiwari accused the Delhi government to be responsible for the polluted river.
“About 105 MGD wastewater from Yamuna in Haryana and about 50 MGD wastewater from Ganga in UP merge into Okhla Barrage. The water has industrial waste, untreated detergents, and ammonia, which lead to the formation of foam…” said Chadha.
He also added that the Delhi government has been writing to the states concerned to resolve the issue of pollution but to no avail. “BJP govts in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana should be blamed for this. Year after year we have written to the UP govt to use irrigation technology, bioculture method...but the BJP govt didn't pay any heed,” stated Chadha.