Delhi Awaits Ammonia-Control Plant At Wazirabad Amid Blame-Game Over Dirty Yamuna
In 2023, the AAP government announced that it will set up an ammonia-control plant at the Wazirabad water-treatment plant. However, probe revealed that even the awarding of work is not done yet
The pollution in Yamuna has yet again taken the centre-stage as the national capital gears up for assembly polls next week. The ammonia levels in the river, as per outgoing chief minister Atishi, have reached 7.2 ppm, far exceeding the treatable limits of 1 ppm.
While Atishi claimed that “Haryana is sending poisonous water to Delhi", News18 did a check on the promised ammonia-control plant at Wazirabad, only to learn that even the awarding of work is not done yet.
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In 2023, the AAP government announced that it will set up an ammonia-control plant at the Wazirabad water-treatment plant. The plant was planned to allow the treatment of the Yamuna water even if the ammonia level is high.
डीजेबी के उपाध्यक्ष सोमनाथ भारती ने किया वजीराबाद वाटर ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट का दौरा। सितंबर में शुरू होगा अमोनिया कंट्रोल प्लांट बनाने का काम। वजीराबाद वॉटर ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट की बढ़ेगी क्षमता। पानी के उत्पादन में होगी 30 एमजीडी की बढ़ोतरी।#DJB4U #DjbOnMissionMode pic.twitter.com/XxCEonvviz— Delhi Jal Board (@DelhiJalBoard) May 7, 2023
However, upon investigation, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials said there is no such plant in Wazirabad and “no such work has been awarded by DJB so far".
An expression of interest (EOI) was issued by the DJB in January 2024 but since then, there has been no update, the official said, seeking anonymity.
The DJB in the EOI said it faces a significant challenge in the form of high ammonia levels in the Yamuna river water, which directly impacts the water treatment and thereby supply to various parts of Delhi.
They said the ammonia level in the Yamuna water can rise, impacting water production at the Chandrawal and Wazirabad water-treatment plants that draw water from the river through the pond.
“The frequency of high ammonia levels in the Yamuna water has increased in recent months, and it no longer subsides as it used to. DJB intended to have an in-situ treatment system to treat higher levels of ammonia at the Wazirabad pond. The proposed technology is expected to reduce ammonia levels up to 2 ppm, even when the input ammonia concentration is as high as 4.0 ppm," they said.
The technology was expected to enhance the water treatment capacity at the Wazirabad and Chandrawal WTPs and help DJB address the challenges posed by the rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna river water, they said.
‘Poison Water’ Controversy
Atishi on Monday blamed Haryana for the situation and added that the BJP is purposely poisoning Yamuna with ammonia-laden water via the DD-8 drain.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal pointed out that the BJP has resorted to dirty politics of an unprecedented scale, endangering lives in Delhi as they are set to face defeat in the assembly elections. “If the people of Delhi are not voting for the BJP, will you kill them by making them drink poisoned water?" he questioned.
Interestingly, while the AAP has blamed it on elections, its government in March 2021 approached the Supreme Court against the Haryana government over the issue of high ammonia levels in the water supplied through the Yamuna and its channels. Further, in the last few years, this has emerged as a pattern.
To understand the higher level of pollutants in Yamuna, and why this occurs, News18 spoke to officials of the Delhi Jal Board, responsible for providing potable water to the city.
A senior official from the body said that while the ruling party in Delhi, AAP, is using elections and blaming the ruling party from Haryana, BJP, the fact is this happens almost every year and there is nothing new in ammonia levels impacting water supply in Delhi.
“In December 2024, almost for the entire month, the level of ammoniacal nitrogen was above 1 ppm. Even in January, it is above 1 ppm. This happens every year, but we manage to continue the supply of water to Delhi, although it does get impacted to some extent. We keep the areas informed about the situation and so there is no panic among the public," a second official said.
They explained that this needed a long-term solution and not blame-game.
Soon after Kejriwal and Atishi claimed “poison in water" referring to ammonia, the DJB issued a counter statement, calling it “false, misleading, and factually incorrect". The DJB also said such alarmist statements amount to fear-mongering.
How Delhi Gets Water and its Treatment Process
The Delhi Jal Board is responsible for the production and distribution of potable water. It takes and treats raw water from Yamuna, Bhakra Storage, Upper Ganga Canal and Groundwater. The DJB also provides treatment and disposal of waste water.
The raw water from Yamuna needs to be treated before it is supplied across the city. There are a number of water treatment plants in Delhi that cleans the water and makes it suitable for use.
The plants of the DJB, another official explained, are designed to treat raw water with up to 1 ppm of ammonia. But they manage up to certain higher levels as well.
“When the ammonia levels are above 1 ppm, the raw Yamuna water is diluted with cleaner water from Canals. Otherwise it will be difficult to meet the water requirement in the city," they said.
In 2019, the pollution levels became so high that Chandrawal and Wazirabad Water Treatment plants had to stop operations completely.
High ammonia levels due to industrial waste being dumped into the Yamuna at Panipat has forced Chandrawal and Wazirabad Water Treatment Plants to stop operations Haryana govt has assured Delhi that they will release additional water soon to dilute the presence of ammonia.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 30, 2019
Annual Problem
On being asked why this is an annual issue, they explained that except in the monsoon, the water flow in the river is low. They said that when the river has enough water, the pollution level is automatically controlled but as soon as the river shrinks, the pollutants impact the water quality.
“The river swells in monsoon and so the water is automatically diluted. But during other months, the water is less and the concentration of pollutants increases," they explained.
A former DJB official said states are allowing industries to dump untreated waste in the river and that is the main source of water pollution.
“Yamuna is one of the worst victims of industrial pollution. The best solution to control pollution in Yamuna is to check the discharge of untreated industrial waste. The parties should show a strong political will against industries polluting rivers, otherwise they have to do politics at the time of election," they added.
The elections will be held in Delhi on February 5 while the counting of votes will be on February 8.
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