Foam spread across the Yamuna River near Okhla Barrage in Delhi on Saturday, with visuals showing a layer floating along the stretch towards Kalindi Kunj. The development has renewed concerns over river pollution ahead of upcoming festivals, particularly Chhath Puja, when devotees gather at the river’s ghats.
The incident has once again highlighted the challenges facing efforts to improve the Yamuna’s water quality.
Pollutants such as detergents and untreated industrial wastewater have frequently been associated with foam formation. However, authorities have not independently established the specific cause of Saturday’s foam.
Earlier this month, Delhi organised a cleanliness and river revival drive along the Yamuna ghats under the ‘Chalo Yamuna’ campaign.
Thousands of young people, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public representatives participated in voluntary clean-up activities.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta led the campaign across Yamuna ghats and surrounding areas at 70 locations throughout the city.
Urging residents to become ‘Yamuna Praharis’, Gupta said, “Cleanliness is not just a campaign but a way of life and ensuring that no waste reaches the Yamuna is our collective responsibility.”
Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category for the third consecutive day on Saturday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 180, according to the latest data.
Pollution levels have risen since Dussehra celebrations, as smoke and unfavourable weather conditions contributed to deteriorating air quality across Delhi-NCR.
Earlier this week, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR after the AQI entered the poor category.
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