Satish Handa, April 10
Residents around the banks of holy Yamuna canal from Yamunanagar in Haryana to Delhi vent their ire over the callous manner of the authorities in handling the ‘clean Yamuna’ project. Information reveals that to keep Yamuna alive nearly 350 cusec water is released in the river from Bairaj enters Haryana state at village Mamdubans in Yamunanagar district gets dry when passes through 70 km distance in the district till it reduces to a drain. It is claimed that the government have provision to spend sufficient funds to clean Yamuna canal every year, but is all baseless as the clean water flowing through the hills which is the centre of attraction turns into rubbish and polluted water due to the negligence of the administration and the docile attitude of the public after the river passes through Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Sonepat and Faridabad districts in Haryana state and all industrial wastes from sewerage treatment plants, polluted water containing harmful chemicals released from industries thrown in it.
Not only this, even polluted sewerage water from nearly 30 municipal drains in adjoining residential as well as rural areas from where river passes is also thrown in this holy river, which becomes bathing place for the buffaloes in summer and one can see hundreds of buffaloes making water so muddy and polluted that no one likes to take dip in it. According to local fishermen, the water in Yamuna canal, said to be a bathing pond for buffaloes, becomes so dirty with cow dung and garbage that it endangers the survival of fish, even migratory birds shun this water. “It is sad, the administration is not taking any action to have a strict check to prevent this pollution,” lament residents that there is no provision for water supply in public toilets in various rural colonies located on the sides of river passing through Haryana and Yamuna canal water is used to clean the toilets and waste water, too, is connected with the river through drains. Then Water Resources & Rivers Developments Union Minister Uma Bharti visited Uttrakhand and Haryana states in 2015 expressed deep concern to see pollution in Yamuna canal and directed concerned officers to take immediate action for cleaning river water.
Information reveals that budgets worth Rs 13.5 crore in the year 2011-12, Rs 8 crore in 2012-13, Rs 10.5 crore in 2013-14, Rs 17 crore in 2014-15, Rs 11 crore in 2015-16, Rs 9 crore in 2016-17, Rs 14 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 8.71 crore in 2018-19 was approved by the government for cleaning Yamuna canal. Information also reveals that large scale illegal mining of sand and gravel from Yamuna river bed is going on by mafias having political shelter at about 17 points round the clock between Kalesar and Gumthala in Haryana state posing a threat to standing crops in the area due to water overflowing from canal from cuts and in spite of all efforts state mining department is unable to have curb over this illegal practice. According to state health department, nearly 70% population in the state is dependant on Yamuna canal water identified very harmful for health, giving rise to serious diseases including cancer, kidney or gall bladder stones, stomach disorders, liver and brain disorders.