New Delhi: Delhi govt has drawn up a long-term plan to deal with the white froth floating on the Yamuna. It includes a three-pronged strategy involving the relocation of dhobi ghats, action against illegal units on the banks that wash and dye jeans, and the construction of a Rs 100-crore riverfront and Chhath ghat at Kalindi Kunj. The initiative comes amid growing concern over rising riverine pollution and the recurring formation of the toxic foam, particularly along the 22-km stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla. Govt officials said water minister Parvesh Verma recently visited the spot along with experts from IIT-Roorkee and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials and discussed long-term mitigation measures. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has begun preparing an action plan for relocation and rehabilitation of both washermen and dhobi ghats along the river, a senior official said. Such sites near Loha Pul, Pandav Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Jamia Nagar and Batla House have long been identified as major contributors to river pollution. Detergents used at these sites contain high phosphate levels that contribute to the thick layer of white foam frequently seen on the river. Large-scale washing of clothes also releases microfibres — tiny plastic particles shed from synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon — into the river ecosystem. “Most of these pollutants bypass conventional water treatment systems and enter the Yamuna directly,” an official said. Despite several eviction drives and restrictions, washermen continue working illegally near Kalindi Kunj and Okhla, adding to the river’s pollution burden. Delhi govt is also intensifying efforts to tackle illegal units that wash and dye jeans. Over 500 such units are functioning illegally, largely in residential areas, including Bindapur, Khyala, Vishnu Garden, Ranhola, Baprola, Seelampur and Sonia Vihar, besides parts of North Shahdara, officials estimate. Verma said these units, classified under the “red-category” of polluting industries, discharge untreated chemical-laden wastewater into local drains that eventually flow into the Yamuna. He said these establishments often operate without environmental clearances and resurface shortly after being sealed. “Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Pollution Control Committee have conducted many sealing drives in the past, but enforcement remains a challenge as many units resume operations within weeks of being shut,” a senior official said, adding govt is planning a large-scale drive for their removal. As part of a broader river rejuvenation plan, Delhi, in coordination with UP govt, will also develop a large riverfront Chhath ghat at Kalindi Kunj at an estimated Rs 100 crore, Verma said. The project will be funded by Delhi govt but executed by UP irrigation department as the land falls in UP. The site is extensively used by Delhiites during Chhath. The proposed waterfront is expected to include improved access to the river, bathing areas and crowd-management infrastructure for devotees. In a parallel intervention aimed at reducing the formation of froth near Kalindi Kunj, PWD will redesign the slope structure in the area to ensure that water does not fall into the river from a considerable height, which officials said contributes significantly to the generation of foam. IIT-Roorkee has been consulted for technical assistance in designing the riverfront project and anti-frothing measures. “The combined steps will ensure that froth is minimal during the next Chhath,” the official said.
