The aquatic life of river Yamuna is almost dead or in very bad situation not just due to the pollution but also the very slow water flow. This flow makes fish or other aquatic life practically not feasible in the stretch of 32 kms of Yamuna passes through Delhi. This has been found in a research of a scholar of Delhi School of Economics. The research scholar Vaneeta Chandna has been awarded Ph.D. by Delhi University this week.

“The minimum flow requirement for any river should be at least 285 cum/sec (cubic metre per second) but the flow in the river Yamuna in Delhi segment goes down to 5 cum/sec especially during summers. Hence, the aquatic life, needing a minimum flow of 10 cu m/sec, dies. So, even if the pollution is diverted from the river, it would not help the aquatic life unless the flow is maintained”, says the research.

The research, done under the guidance of Dr. R B Singh, also blames Delhi for pathetic condition of river Yamuna. “All pollutants lying on the surface of its basin are washed into the river, degrading its water quality …as a result the river no longer remains the source of water but becomes a channel which receives dirty waste water and transport downstream. Though Delhi covers only two percent of length and 0.5 percent of the basin area of the river, it contributes more than 70%of the waste water discharged into the river Yamuna everyday. The situation has become so grim that it has become a matter of great concern nationwide”, says the research.

It has also raised doubt about the sewage treatment plant saying it ‘inadequate’. According to findings only 46.4 percent of waste gets partial or full treatment and rest gets back into the river Yamuna through 17 open drains.

Heavy Metals & Fluoride:
Presence of heavy metals and Fluoride in Yamuna water is another major concern in the research. Though the concentration of heavy metals like magnesium, calcium etc. decreased during the post monsoon period the concentration of Fluoride remain same during the both pre and post monsoon period.