OPINION | Chhath Pooja : Devotees forced to perform rituals in Delhi’s filthy Yamuna river

Millions of people offered Chhath Pooja prayer during sunset in Patna, Gaya, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Lucknow and other cities on Wednesday on the banks of rivers and ponds, but in Delhi, people had to perform prayers amidst tight restrictions.   The restrictions were ostensibly imposed to prevent the spread of Covid pandemic, but visuals that emerged from Yamuna bank clearly showed that the local authorities wanted to hide the froth floating on the river from public view.   Two days ago, Delhi government had claimed that the Yamuna water was clean and all the froth and dirt was at Okhla barrage controlled by UP government, but on Wednesday, officials of Delhi government were making a spectacle of themselves by trying hard to remove the froth from Yamuna.   Watching these visuals can make anybody laugh and also become sad. Till now, people were used to watching tankers collecting water from river banks, but on Wednesday it was the reverse. Delhi Jal Board tankers were deployed to spray water to remove foam from the river. Till now, people were used to watch bamboo barricades at river banks to prevent devotees from drowning, but on Wednesday, bamboo barricades were erected to hide the foam from public view. These visuals raise serious concern about the intent of local authorities.   The authorities were busy working since Wednesday morning and their sole aim was to hide the foam in Yamuna from public view. Precious drinking water that is normally supplied to people in Delhi, was being used by Delhi Jal Board officials to spray on foam floating in Yamuna. Though Delhi government had imposed restrictions on offering Chhath prayer at Kalindi Kunj bank, DJB water tankers were brought to spray water on foam. The work continued till evening, but the foam continued to float in Yamuna. The water remained dirty. Delhi government also deployed 15 motor boats along with country boats with staffers trying to disperse the foam with sticks. But both the ideas failed to click.   A third idea was implemented. Bamboo barricades were erected in the river to hide the foam from public view. These barricades stopped the flow of foam, but the froth continued to accumulate inside the barricaded area. Devotees who took bath in Yamuna on Wednesday complained that the water was blackish and full of dirt.   UP Jal Shakti minister Mahendra Singh said, the state government tries its best to keep the Yamuna water clean. He blamed Delhi government for failing to keep Yamuna clean on its 22 kilometre stretch. The Yamuna flows at least 900 km inside UP. Haryana BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankad said, Yamuna water that is supplied by Haryana to Delhi is clean, and is used for drinking purpose. He blamed Delhi government for failing to keep the Yamuna clean as several hundred drains fall into the river inside the capital.   Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, the Centre provided Rs 3,900 crore to clean up the Yamuna from Namami Gange project, but the onus is on Delhi government which has to implement the scheme. He alleged that the intent to clean the Yamuna was lacking on part of Delhi government.

from IndiaTV India: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/30cCjOk
via