Days ahead of the auspicious festival of Chhatt Puja, the grim reality of our rivers and water bodies come to light. Visuals of Delhi’s Yamuna River blanket with toxic foam went viral online.
Ahead of #ChhathPuja, health experts warned the devotees intending to take a dive in the #Yamuna river of skin irritation and atopic dermatitis from its toxic foam. pic.twitter.com/H6SXT2PL2R
— IANS Tweets (@ians_india) November 9, 2021
During the four-day puja, devotees worship the sun god and visit the banks of the nearby water bodies to pay homage to the lord. And like every year, even this year, the worshippers had to take a dip in the toxic froth and perform the puja.
Zee News reported that the alarming rise of phosphates and surfactants in untreated sewage from Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh is a major reason behind the presence of toxic froth in the rivers. Due to the rise in ammonia levels in the Yamuna, the city’s water supply was also affected.
Taking cognizance of the issue following social media outrage, the officials finally became proactive. According to India Today, the authority deployed workers to sprinkle water into the Yamuna River to defoam the toxins from the surface of the river. Moreover, bamboo barricades were also placed to prevent the foam from floating into the puja ghats.
Delhi: Ahead of 'Chhath Puja', boats being used to clear-off toxic foam from Yamuna river. Visuals from Kalindi Kunj.
Delhi govt has deployed 15 boats in the river to dissipate toxic foam. pic.twitter.com/rhcnSok4U5
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021
#WATCH | Barricades being placed in the Yamuna to stop toxic foam from floating towards the ghat. Visuals from Delhi's Kalindi Kunj. pic.twitter.com/QIvun5LPMJ
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021
While the foam isn’t visible, the toxins remaining in the water body have increased the concern of several environmentalists. “They are trying to visibly block the froth from basically your eyesight, but the pollutants remain in the river. High levels of ammonia, this is sewage flowing in the river and such techniques don’t safeguard pollution,” said environmentalist Vimlendu Jha.
A video of a man sprinkling water in the Yamuna to dissipate toxic foam was hilariously trolled online.
#WATCH | "We are sprinkling water in the Yamuna to dissipate toxic foam," says Ashok Kumar, Delhi Jal Board employee pic.twitter.com/4waL2VsM7T
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021
People online took a dig at the authorities for their jugaad in handling this concerning crisis by sharing memes and jokes.
Science hum sharminda hai https://t.co/WmJExaJGnt
— Sheikh Irfan (@sheikhsays) November 10, 2021
Would it not be easier to fold up the Yamuna and put it through a car wash? Must think scientifically about these things… https://t.co/zOhWobWyq0
— Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) November 10, 2021
Washing a river ?!.Does it make Yamuna clean?. Please share this newest tech. We will wash our village ponds 😔 https://t.co/zqdR7LrAT6
— Vishnu (@MVRaoIPS) November 10, 2021
Like a Hello Kitty bandaid on a septic puncture wound. https://t.co/NVeEGij1BN
— Aruna Chandrasekhar (@aruna_sekhar) November 10, 2021
yep. clean water with water. what a messed up state of affairs. https://t.co/znLWGjrYtD
— Copylation (@twitface27) November 10, 2021
Not sure why everyone is laughing. If something is not clean, you have to wash it. Everyone knows that. Perhaps they could use some detergent too. https://t.co/blhzE8qQqx
— Siddharth Singh (@siddharth3) November 10, 2021
Kal aasman mein ice cubes phekenge to fight Global Warming. https://t.co/cTeqvXdXjG
— Sahil Shah 🇮🇳 (@SahilBulla) November 10, 2021
Me watching a new Netflix serial killer documentary while having a breakdown. https://t.co/MW5EQif9Iv
— Sayantan Ghosh (@sayantansunnyg) November 10, 2021
What an idea! Mix ganne ka juice to sea water to make it sweet next https://t.co/gaVoX1orwF
— Babumoshai (@Bong_in_Delhi) November 10, 2021
Fixing a crumbling house with a fresh coat of paint. Brilliant https://t.co/cN1sInpc81
— Nishi (@Noirtanki) November 10, 2021
Same energy https://t.co/pGyy5x3gPG pic.twitter.com/xAvUmpCHf2
— Aavish Kant (@Aavish_K) November 10, 2021
Delhi Police personnel also dispersed crowds gathered at Yamuna ghat for Chhath Puja reasoning that celebrations on the banks of the river are barred.
Delhi | Chhath celebrations are not allowed at Yamuna ghats. Few devotees who came here have been asked to leave by the police: Vikas Rai, President, Chhath Pooja Samiti, Kalindi Kunj pic.twitter.com/n5gClXymTy
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021
I wonder why it is only after a public outcry or online trolling that the authorities become so proactive? What do you think?