Yamuna River pollution

Topics Covered: Conservation and pollution related issues.

Yamuna River pollution:

Context:

A ‘Monthly Progress Report’ was recently submitted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti on cleaning Yamuna.

Key findings:

1. The level of faecal coliform (microbes from human and animal excreta) is above the desirable limit at all points tested in Yamuna in Delhi.
2. For bathing in a river, the desirable level of faecal coliform is 500 MPN/100 ml or lesser, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.
3. Besides, levels of different pollutants are above permissible limits in ground water samples from different points near the four landfills in Delhi.
4. Ground water samples from different points near landfills showed that the hardness of water was higher than the desirable limit of 300 mg/l.
5. The levels of chlorine and calcium were also above the desirable limit in all four samples.
6. The level of sulfate was higher than the desirable limit of 200 mg/l in some locations.

Insta Facts:

1. The river Yamuna is a major tributary of river Ganges.
2. Originates from the Yamunotri glacier near Bandarpoonch peaks in the Mussoorie range of the lower Himalayas in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
3. It meets the Ganges at the Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh after flowing through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
4. Tributaries: Chambal, Sindh, Betwa and Ken.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. River Yamuna Flows through how many states and UTs?
2. Tributaries of Yamuna.
3. Acceptable maximum limit of ammonia in drinking water?
4. Permissible level of Sulfate.
5. Desirable limit of hardness of water.
6. The desirable level of faecal coliform.

Sources: the Hindu.