Shahdara and Barapullah drains pollute Delhi's Yamuna
A Delhi Pollution Control Committee report identifies the Shahdara and Barapullah drains as the most polluted, with all 14 flowing drains in the city
The Shahdara, Barapullah, and Sen Nursing Home drains are the worst offenders, dumping untreated effluent directly into Delhi's stretch of the Yamuna river. This finding comes from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) water analysis report for August, dated September 9.
Of the 22 drains between Wazirabad and Okhla that flow into the Yamuna, eight were dry. The remaining 14 all failed to meet prescribed water quality standards. The report also noted that the L3 drain from Gurugram, entering Najafgarh jheel, and the Sahibabad drain from Uttar Pradesh, which feed into Delhi's system, performed poorly on pollution metrics.
Drains breach all pollution parameters
The government monitors Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in these drains. DPCC standards require TSS below 100mg/L, COD below 250mg/L, and BOD below 30mg/L.
The August report showed the Shahdara drain was the most polluted, violating all limits. It was followed closely by the Barapullah and Sen Nursing Home drains. None of the sampled drains met the BOD criterion.
| Drain | Total Suspended Solids (TSS) | Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) | Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shahdara | 240 mg/L | 272 mg/L | 120 mg/L |
| Barapullah | 218 mg/L | 256 mg/L | 120 mg/L |
| Sen Nursing Home | 216 mg/L | 240 mg/L | 100 mg/L |
BOD indicates organic pollution by measuring oxygen needed by microorganisms to break down waste. COD measures the total oxygen required to chemically oxidize all pollutants. TSS shows turbidity from undissolved particles. Lower values mean cleaner water.
The polluted stretch and treatment shortfall
The 22-kilometer Yamuna stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla is the river's most polluted part. The Delhi Jal Board cannot treat all the sewage the city generates, so a large volume flows into the river. Officials stated the Delhi government is connecting all households to sewerage infrastructure with a target to double treatment capacity within three years.
Yamuna activist Pankaj Kumar of Earth Warriors referenced the report. "Throughout the monsoon season, despite the dilution, Yamuna has been full of froth at Okhla," he said.
The report's surveillance also covered six sub-drains flowing into the Agra canal, three Uttar Pradesh drains ending in the Shahdara drain, and sub-drains reaching the Najafgarh jheel.
