- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has rebutted allegations made by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who accused the Haryana government of introducing “poison” into the water supply for Delhi, labeling it as “water terrorism” in a letter to the Election Commission of India.
In response, the DJB stated that Kejriwal’s claims are unfounded, misleading, and factually incorrect. They emphasized that the board regularly monitors water quality and adjusts supplies accordingly.
The DJB explained that ammonia levels in the Yamuna River naturally increase during the winter months, particularly from October to February. Their water treatment facilities are equipped to handle ammonia concentrations up to 1 ppm (parts per million) and can manage levels between 2 and 2.5 ppm through dilution with water from the Carrier Line Channel (CLC) and Delhi Sub Branch (DSB).
The rise in ammonia is mainly attributed to untreated sewage and industrial waste mixing upstream of the Wazirabad Barrage, exacerbated by lower water flow in winter after the monsoon. The DJB noted that ammonia levels had reached 6.5 ppm at Wazirabad pond, leading to a reduction in production capacity at their treatment plants by 15 to 20 percent.
Despite the high ammonia levels, the DJB assured the public that such measures are routine during winter months. They also mentioned that Haryana officials are working to prevent untreated sewage from affecting the water quality by laying a pipeline as per National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders.
The DJB reported a recent decline in ammonia levels upstream of Wazirabad Pond and anticipated further improvement. Once ammonia levels decrease, production at the treatment plants will return to normal.
Additionally, the DJB expressed concern that these allegations could incite fear among Delhi residents and negatively impact relations between Delhi and Haryana. They suggested that these facts should be communicated to the Lieutenant Governor due to their potential effect on inter-state relations. The DJB also provided data showing fluctuating ammonia levels for December 2024 and January 2025, assuring the public that the situation is under close observation.
