OFFICE OF THE YAMUNA POLLUTION MONITORING COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY HON’BLE NGT ROOM NO. 58, INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE 40, MAX MUELLER MARG, LODHI ESTATE NEW DELHI – 110003 Dated: 21.04.2020 Subject: Water Quality of River Yamuna during the Lockdown Background: Yamuna Pollution Monitoring Committee (YMC) observed a number of reports and pictures of river Yamuna appearing in the media, including social media, which showed improvement in water quality in the river after the lock down imposed by the Government. YMC members also started receiving telephonic calls from different media agencies seeking confirmation about the improvement in water quality and the reasons therefor. In order to settle the matter, the YMC asked both CPCB and DPCC, through Whatsapp messages sent to the Member Secretaries on 4th and 5th April, to undertake testing of water quality in the river as well as the main drains joining the river and submit a report within one week giving detailed analysis of the results and the causative factors for improvement, if any noticed, in water quality. Test and Analysis Reports: 1. DPCC Report of 15.4.20: The Report of DPCC received on 15.4.20 is based on samples collected at 9 stations along the river and at 20 stations on the drains. The analysis suggests that there is deterioration in water quality at 4 stations, namely, Palla, Surghat, Khajuri Paltoon Pool(downstream of Najafgarh drain point) and Kudesia Ghat whereas there is improvement ranging from 20-33% in BOD at 5 stations, namely, ITO, Nizamuddin, Agra canal Jaitpur, Okhla barrage(Upstream) and Ohkla barrage(downstream after meeting of Shahdara drain). The Water quality measured on 6.4.20 has been compared with corresponding data for the year 2019. Another 1 significant factor held responsible for the improvement, wherever noticed, is almost four-fold increase in fresh water availability downstream of Wazirabad in April 2020 (DPCC report is Placed at Annexure -1, Page no. 4). 2. CPCB Report of 20.4.20: The Report of CPCB received on 20.4.20 is based on samples collected at three stations, namely, Palla, Nizamuddin and Okhla (Downstream) and 16 major drains. The major findings are that the water quality at all the three stations has improved significantly over pre lock down quality. In fact BOD at Nizamuddin and Okhla has decreasedincreased by as much as 80 to 90% with similar decreasesincreases in COD, though DO levels were still low. The waste water quality in two major drains, namely, Najafgarh and Shahdara, which contribute to about 2/3rd of the hydraulic load of all the drains, has also shown improvement of about 30-45% in BOD, though the drains even with this improvement had BOD levels of 56 mg/L and 89 mg/L respectively. The Report, based on the data supplied by DJB, also has pointed out that the fresh water availability which was less than 1000 cusecs prior to lockdown, increased, more than fivefold downstream of Wazirabad during the lockdown. Besides the fact that all the industries, which contributed to about 36 MLD of effluent, having been closed also helped improve water quality. Other factors attributed are due to stoppage of human activities such as throwing of Pooja materials, solid waste disposal, bathing and washing of clothes etc. which were minimised during the ongoing lockdown. (CPCB Report placed at Annexure- 2, Page no. 12). 2 YMC’s Observation: As may be seen, there is some variance between the results of the tests carried out by the CPCB and DPCC. Though YMC had asked the CPCB to compile the data of CPCB and DPCC and submit a consolidated report, CPCB informed that such an exercise was not possible in the present situation. Also, whereas the report of DPCC is based on samples collected at 9 stations along the river, the report of CPCB is based on samples from 3 stations. The timing and location of the samples collected were not the same. However the common findings are as under; 1. There was significant increase (5 to 6 fold) in fresh water availability during the Month of April downstream of Wazirabad which helped in dilution of the pollution caused due to waste water from major drains like Najafgarh and Shahdara, which even during the Lockdown period had BOD of 56 mg/L and 89 mg/L respectively. Therefore, for improvement in water quality, availability of fresh water in significant quantities is of importance. 2. Industrial effluent, from 28 industrial clusters and industries in non- conforming/residential areas, was absent during the period of lockdown. Residential areas are estimated to have more than 51000 industries. Preventing any industrial effluent going into the drains and eventually the river has contributed to improvement in the water quality. This is also clear from significant reduction in the COD levels both in the drains and the river. 3. Other human activities like stoppage of indiscriminate dumping of solid waste, C&D waste, pooja material, washings and bathing and even unauthorised dumping of septage during the lockdown have also contributed to the improvement. 3 ａｮｮ･ｸｵｲ･＠Ｍ＠Ｑ ASSESSMENT OF YAMUNA RIVER WATER QUALITY, DELHI DURING LOCK DOWN PERIOD DELHI POLLUTION CONTROL COMMITTEE 5TH FLOOR, ISBT BUILDING, KASHMERE GATE, DELHI-6 (Visit us at: http://dpcc.delhigovt.nic.in) (APRIL 2020) 4 ASSESSMENT OF RIVER WATER QUALITY DURING LOCK DOWN PERIOD Delhi Pollution Control Committee has monitored the water quality of River Yamuna on 06.04.2020 at 9 locations and drains at 20 locations during lockdown period. The data obtained was compared with previous year data (April 2019). The assessment is given below: A. River Water Quality Assessment 1. Palla: No reduction in pollution level of water quality was observed at Palla during lockdown. However, water quality is meeting the Water Quality Criteria of Bathing Standard (Class ‘C’) 2. Surghat: No reduction in pollution level of water quality was observed at Surghat. However, water quality is meeting the Water Quality Criteria of Bathing Standard. 3. Khajuri Paltoon Pool (d/s Najafgarh Drain): 42% increase in BOD pollution level was observed. 4. Kudesia Ghat: No significant change (4%) in pollution level of water quality was observed at Kudesia Ghat. 5. ITO Bridge: 21% reduction in pollution level of water quality was observed at ITO Bridge. 6. Nizamuddin Bridge: 20% reduction in pollution level of water quality was observed at ITO Bridge during lockdown period. 7. Agra Canal Jaitpur: : 26% reduction in pollution level of water quality was observed at Agra Canal Jaitpur during lockdown. 8. Agra Canal Okhla Barrage: 33% reduction in pollution level of water quality was observed at Agra Canal Okhla during lockdown. 5 9. D/s Okhla Barrage (after meeting Shahdara drain): 18% reduction in pollution level of water quality was observed at Agra Canal Okhla during lockdown. CONCLUSION The quality of water in river Yamuna improved during lockdown period. At Okhla Barrage BOD value of 16 mg/l was observed, compared to 24 mg/l last year (April 2019) (33% improvement). However, the water quality is not meeting the Water Quality Criteria. In April 2019 the average flow was 1000 cusecs compared to average flow of 3900 cusecs in April 2020. Therefore, the dilution is also contributing to the improvement of water quality. 6 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF POLLUTION LEVEL (BOD) IN RIVER YAMUNA, DELHI BOD (mg/L) April, 2019 April, 2020 33 35 28 28 30 25 24 22 24 23 23 25 19 20 20 16 16 17 15 10 3.8 5 1.7 2.8 2.8 0 Palla Surghat Palton Pool Kudesia Ghat ITO Bridge Nizamuddin Agra Canal Agra Canal D/S okhla Bridge (Okhla (Jaitpur) Barrage after Bridge) meeting Shahdara Drain ASSESSMENT OF % REDUCTION Sr. Location % Reduction BOD mg/l No. (2020) Monitoring Year April, 2019 April, 2020 1 Palla 1.7 2.8 - 2 Surghat 2.8 3.8 - `3 Palton Pool 19 33 - 4 Kudesia Ghat 24 25 - 5 ITO Bridge 28 22 21 6 Nizamuddin Bridge 20 16 20 7 Agra Canal, Okhla Bridge 24 16 33 8 Agra Canal (Jaitpur 23 17 26 9 D/S Okhla Barrage after 18 28 23 meeting Shahdara Drain 7 WATER QUALITY OF RIVER YAMUNA (APRIL 2019 & APRIL 2020) S.No. Location Date of pH COD mg/l BOD mg/l DO mg/l Faecal Monitoring Coliform( MPN/100ml) Primary Water Quality Criteria 6.5- - 3 mg/l or less 5 mg/l or 500(desirable for Bathing Water 8.5 more 2500 (maximum permissible) 1 Palla April, 2020 8.00 12.0 2.8 6.9 18x102 April, 2019 7.6 8 1.7 8.5 - 2 Surghat April, 2020 8.06 16.0 3.8 6.8 170 April, 2019 7.4 12 2.8 5.8 - 3 Palton Pool April, 2020 7.24 116.0 33.0 NIL 13x106 April, 2019 7.5 64 19 NIL - 4 Kudesia April, 2020 7.37 60.0 25.0 NIL 14x106 Ghat April, 2019 7.2 76 24 NIL - 5 ITO Bridge April, 2020 7.63 32.0 22.0 2.3 33x106 April, 2019 7 88 28 NIL - 6 Nizamuddin April, 2020 7.64 42.0 16.0 2.3 63x104 Bridge April, 2019 7 68 20 NIL - 7 Agra Canal, April, 2020 7.46 42.0 16.0 4.8 26x104 (Okhla April, 2019 7.3 68 24 NIL - Barrage) 8 Agra Canal April, 2020 7.45 48.0 17.0 4.2 14x105 (Jaitpur ) April, 2019 7.4 64 23 NIL - 9 D/S okhla April, 2020 7.63 76.0 23 NIL 12x105 Barrage April, 2019 7.4 96 28 NIL - after meeting Shardra Drain 8 B, Drain Waste Water Quality Assessment wrt BOD 1, Najafgarh Drain: 22% reduction in pollution level of drain waste water quality was observed in April 2020 as compared to April 2019.