Floodwater washes away Yamuna's stink, experts say river 'healthiest' this year yet

The water quality in the Yamuna has improved significantly due to a rise in inflow of floodwaters, and the river is at its "healthiest" state this year yet, experts have said.        

The improvement is largely due to the increased oxygen content of the water which cleanses the river and helps keep pollutants in check, they said.

One of the most important rivers in the country, Yamuna passes through Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. It merges with the Ganga at Allahabad. 

Yamuna has earned the unpleasant distinction of being one of the most polluted rivers in the country, but experts said the quality of water has improved in the last two days due to increased flow.

On Monday, the water level in Yamuna surpassed the danger mark of 204.83 metres, forcing evacuation of around 10,000 people from the low-lying areas, after around 5,13,554 cusecs was released by the Hathini Kund barrage.

Water level in Yamuna continues to rise for third day 

Experts also highlighted that the water quality improves every year during monsoon, when the river flow improves. The flowing water contains more oxygen which helps in cleansing the water, they said.

Manoj Mishra, the convener of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, termed the improvement as a "temporary effect which would go with the monsoon season".

"The quality of Yamuna water is at its healthiest state this year yet but that is due to the better water flow. Any water that is flowing always has better quality as it has increased oxygen content which cleanses the water and also prevents further pollution," he said.

He highlighted the need to maintain the healthy state of the river.

"There is a need to maintain environmental flow at Hathini Kund Barrage to ensure that the aquatic flora and fauna flourish as they are dependent upon the environmental flow," he said.

Environmental flow is quantity, timing, and quality of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems.

"You will notice that the typical Yamuna stink has disappeared these days. It is due to the increased water flow," he said.

Yamuna continues to breach danger mark, water level reaches 206 metres 

The experts, however, expressed apprehensions about the longevity of the improved state of the river.

Faiyaz Khudsar, a scientist at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park, said this temporary improvement in water quality is an yearly affair and to retain this quality there is a need to make and maintain wetlands.

Wetland is an area saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. They play a very important function of filtering water. As water moves through a wetland, the sediments and pollutants 'stick' in the wetland, making the water cleaner. Wetlands also help reduce flooding and prevent shoreline erosion.

Khudsar said wetlands, which can act as "kidneys" for Yamuna, should be developed between Palla and Okhla to retain the flood water and ensure long-term benefits.

"These wetlands can act as a lifeline for Yamuna and can also be used to sustain the aquatic life which has been severely destroyed by the pollution in Yamuna," he said.

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"There are several floodplains between Palla and Wazirabad that can be used for making wetlands," he added.

Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), who has been involved in crafting urban water policy and unconventional wastewater treatment, suggested that to maintain the quality, there is a need to divert less water from the 75-km-long Hathini Kund barrage to eastern and western canal of Yamuna for irrigation.

The experts said that the temporary healthy state of Yamuna would subside after the monsoon season and sewage water would again pollute the river if steps are not taken to prevent its contamination.