(a) whether the water treatment units of Yamuna river in Delhi break down due to excessive
release of ammonia;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has made any efforts to check the release of excessive quantity
of ammonia in Yamuna river by the industrial units; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (DR. M. VEERAPPA MOILY)
(a)& (b) The water treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal in Delhi receiving water from
Yamuna through Wazirabad pond were partly operational on a few days from 13th to 24th January,
2014 due to excessive release of ammonia in Yamuna by discharge of sewage and industrial
wastewater in Haryana.
(c)& (d) Controlling discharge of pollution from industries and sewage into the river is
primarily the responsibility of the respective State Governments, municipalities and State
Pollution Control Boards. However, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is coordinating
with the State Governments of Delhi and Haryana as well as their agencies like Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Haryana, Haryana Irrigation Department,
Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to
control pollution from industries in Haryana and Delhi. CPCB has conducted joint inspection of
point sources discharging into river Yamuna along with these agencies. Directions under Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 have been issued from time to time. Further,
CPCB has made an exhaustive survey of polluting sources of river Yamuna upstream of Wazirabad
and reviewed the status of sewage treatment plants in Delhi and water quality problems in the
Delhi stretch of the river. CPCB has also installed continuous water quality monitoring stations
at Wazirabad and Okhla in Delhi.