New Delhi, 7 November 2024: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation seeking to allow the public to perform the festival of Chhath Puja at Geeta Colony Ghats on the Yamuna riverbed in the national capital.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela rejected the PIL moved by Purvanchal Nav Nirman Sansthan, underscoring that performance of Chhath Puja on the Yamuna riverbed will be harmful for the devotees, keeping in view its pollution level.
Delhi Government’s counsel, Santosh Kumar Tripathi told Court that the Yamuna river is highly polluted at this juncture and if the devotees are allowed to perform Chhath Puja on the riverbed, they are likely to fall sick.
He also told the Court that the Delhi Government has earmarked 1,000 spots to perform the Chhath Puja in the national capital and sufficient arrangements are made for the same.
Reports reveal that 184.9 million gallons of untreated sewage are discharged into the Yamuna River daily, with experts warning that even touching the water can lead to serious diseases.
Every day, 184.9 million gallons of untreated sewage from 122 small and large drains flow into the Yamuna River along its 22-km stretch in Delhi, making it the biggest contributor to the river’s pollution.
Dermatologists have warned that coming into contact with this water can cause skin diseases and other health issues.
Despite the Delhi and central governments spending over Rs 7,000 crore on cleaning the Yamuna over the past seven years, the water in any part of the river in Delhi remains unfit for drinking or bathing. In fact, the water is considered untouchable.
Najafgarh Drain’s Role in Pollution
According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the Najafgarh drain is the primary source of pollution, responsible for discharging untreated sewage into the Yamuna through the Wazirabad Barrage. This drain alone is responsible for contaminating 80 percent of the river’s water in Delhi.
Government Spending on Cleanup Efforts
DPCC data reveals that between 2017 and 2021, Rs 6,856.9 crore was sanctioned to various departments for wastewater treatment efforts. Additionally, from 2015 to mid-2023, the central government allocated approximately Rs 1,200 crore to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for Yamuna cleaning initiatives. However, the ongoing pollution continues to hinder progress.
