The Supreme Court (SC) has recently issued a suo motu notice regarding the pollution of water bodies via untreated sewage. This occurred during an urgent hearing for a petition filed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), requesting immediate action to prevent Haryana from discharging pollutants into the Yamuna river.
The Background of the Issue
In the 2017 Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti versus Union of India case, the SC finalised norms for generating funds to set up and operate the Common Effluent Treatment Plant and Sewage Treatment Plants. The verdict fell on the shoulders of the State Pollution Control Boards to establish these rules by March 31st, 2017. Furthermore, it was directed that such cities, towns, and villages which directly release industrial pollutants and sewerage into rivers and other water bodies must be prioritised when installing these plants.
The Supreme Court’s Ruling
Upon review, the SC highlighted several key constitutional provisions. Article 243W, for instance, entrusts municipalities and local authorities with the task of implementing schemes, including those related to public health, sanitation conservancy, and solid waste management. Additionally, according to Article 21, having a clean environment and, particularly, access to pollution-free water falls under the fundamental right to life.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have been directed by the court to submit a report. The report should identify municipalities along the Yamuna river that have either failed to install adequate sewage treatment plants or have shortcomings in preventing untreated sewage discharge into the river. The CPCB is also expected to provide a list of additional predominant contamination sources within municipal limits, and a ranking of the municipalities whose adjacent river stretches are most polluted.
Pollution in Yamuna: Causes and Effects
The main causes of pollution in Yamuna are industrial pollution and the mixing of drains. The Yamuna flows into Delhi from Haryana, which has industrial units in Sonipat, located on the banks of the Yamuna. These units use ammonia for producing fertilisers, plastics, and dyes. Moreover, two drains in Sonipat, one carrying drinking water and another sewage or industrial waste (or both), often mix due to overflow or damage to their separating wall.
The rising presence of ammonia in the river is problematic. Ammonia reduces the oxygen in water as it turns into oxidised forms of nitrogen, increasing Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). Organic waste water pollution is measured in terms of BOD. High levels of ammonia (above 1 ppm) are toxic to fishes and can cause damage to human internal organs if ingested over a long period.
About the Yamuna River
The Yamuna river, a significant tributary of the Ganges river, originates from the Yamunotri glacier near Bandarpoonch peaks in the Mussoorie range of the lower Himalayas in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The river, spanning 1376 kilometers, flows through multiple states before merging with the Ganges at Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Major dams on this river include the Lakhwar-Vyasi Dam in Uttarakhand and the Tajewala Barrage Dam in Haryana. Furthermore, Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, Ken, Tons, and Hindon are some of its important tributaries.