As the nationwide lockdown forced citizens to stay indoors, industries to remain shut, human activities to come to a halt, nature took it as an opportunity to heal itself. Animals were reclaiming their territories, endangered species were spotted again, and rivers started to look clean and clear.
During the lockdown, the most stunning transformation was that of river Yamuna, which previously was extremely polluted. Once filled with toxic foam, the Yamuna waters turned blue and clear, taking many people by surprise!
However, as the lockdown got lifted and people got back to their regular lives, river Yamuna sadly has gone back to its polluted condition. According to The New Indian Express, this is due to the discharge of toxic industrial pollutants like detergent into the river.
“Earlier during the days of coronavirus lockdown, Yamuna was clear but now it is covered with dirt. We are not able to breathe properly as air pollution is increasing day by day. The government is doing its own course but we as a citizen should also take steps to combat the situation. People should not throw the dirt into the river,” said a local, BS Rawat.
Here’s a video capturing river Yamuna in its current state:
#WATCH A thick layer of toxic foam on the surface of Yamuna river seen at Kalindi Kunj in #Delhi pic.twitter.com/o4jyL7xwvE
— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2020
On seeing the video, people online were left speechless. They couldn’t believe that this is the Yamuna which was clear blue a few months back!
It's a collection of 18 drains flowing into it, carrying a toxic cocktail of sewage, chemicals, detergents, industrial waste, and excreta." Less than 10% of the sewage discharged into the river is treated, putting millions of people who use the water at risk of disease. https://t.co/1WOcTnJxR7
— 𝑼𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑮𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓 (@justwantthisway) November 4, 2020
This is hell scary https://t.co/an2cVzfo63
— Sad Billu // Textrovert // Self Sly (@a_textrovertguy) November 4, 2020
And we are back to where we deserve to be – HELL https://t.co/lcQBvf7Wda
— vipra shrivastava (@Vipra_s) November 4, 2020
Now , humanity is healing and coming back to its routine life. https://t.co/rb5yb4tDSW
— Y (@Zaharistocrate) November 4, 2020
Nature was healing back during lockdown and now this , dont tell me humans are not the problem. https://t.co/Lw9GOJ0Hsk
— Sanskriti (@ThatStarGazer) November 4, 2020
The state of one of the biggest rivers in India. 😔 https://t.co/3EWUWZ0FEv
— Parth Choudhari (@parthc98) November 4, 2020
@ErikSolheim @FFFIndia @GretaThunberg
Pollution at its peak in delhi, air pollution crossing the previous day records and water pollution only god shall know it's severity. Just imagine the damage to the life in the river which is full of pollution.#saveyamuna https://t.co/peJr4VTdT9— POTHIREDDY SAI SARAN REDDY (@Saisaran1701) November 4, 2020
This goes on to highlight how humans are the biggest threat to nature’s welfare. This should make our heads hang in shame.