Page 135 - Built Expressions - Online Construction Magazine - November 2014 Issue

Green Strokes River Yamuna- the lifeline of Delhi (1850) River Yamuna in Delhi is now a Dirty Drain stations, sanitary landfll, bus depot More than 70 unauthorised colonies have come and parking, construction of roads, up in the river zone, which have adversely altered the grid sub-stations, samadhis, housing, river regime and its water quality. There are 22 sewage offces, stadia, temples, cremation grounds, IT Park, metro depot and treatment plants in Delhi, the river is still full of sewage. various other activities. More than 70 unauthorised colonies have come up in the river zone, which have adversely Especially during the summer, the This needs capacity augmentation altered the river regime and its water rivers do not have continuous fow, of the existing barrages and storage quality. There are 22 sewage treatment lack oxidation and become stagnant. reservoirs and collection of the plants in Delhi, the river is still full of This is major cause of their pollution. monsoon water. sewage To ensure the fow of water in the Huge quantities of human, About Rs. 20,000 crore have been river throughout the year release of industrial, liquid, tanneries and solid spent under the Ganga Action Plan water from upstream barrages and wastes enter into the rivers. This needs (GAP) since 1986 and about 3,000 development of reservoirs in low lying to be urgently stopped by providing crore under Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) areas are necessary. Up-gradation of sanitation, sewerage, local treatment since 1993. Both have been abject water quality to prescribed standards facilities and bio-digester based failures. The conventional sewerage needs to be ensured and monitored. toilets in the areas adjacent to river models and techno-environmental By de-silting the existing pondage where people live and congregate. approaches have not worked. The areas can be enhanced. Construction Up-gradation of water quality to issues are closely intertwined with the of micro-dams upstream will help prescribed standards requires strict social, cultural and religious context, collecting the monsoon excess which enforcement of Water Pollution Act. whereby the governance has a key can be released in the rivers during The installation of treatment facilities role in the endeavour of rejuvenation lean periods. The soft landscape (STPs and ETPs) by polluting units and cleaning of the rivers. This and vegetation along the river banks and surrounding urban areas, and implies coordinated and participatory will allow rain to be absorbed rather their effcient and effective functioning actions, which synergise socio- than running off. Natural in-stream are essential. cultural, environmental, political, elements, e.g. root wads of downed While curative action, such as administrative, technical and fnancial trees provide essential slow-water installation of treatment facilities aspects. The institutions connected habitat for fsh and insects that will is necessary, more important is with the river have to be accountable, regenerate native wetlands. preventive action. This involves professional and transparent and also Supreme Court of India directed removal of non-compatible and capable of working with the public that a minimum10 cumecs of water pollution generating land uses from and understanding the nuts and bolts be ensured in the river Yamuna the river zone and also cleaning of of social engineering. Without public throughout, together with pollution major drains and controlling the support and participation the cleaning abatement and up-gradation of water dumping of solid waste and untreated and pollution control to achieve the quality. This should be ensured for sewage into rivers and drains. purity of the rivers will remain only a all the rivers, besides the Yamuna. Innovative, economical and pragmatic pipe-dream. The availability of water in the river solutions like primary treatment, About 90% of river water is diverted throughout the year is not only bio-remediation, oxidation ponds, into drains and canals and most of the important for making it lively and aeration, etc. can be employed to treat remaining water is stored for urban pollution free, but also to meet the waste water. For treatment of pesticide use, leaving the rivers high and dry. burgeoning demand of water supply. traces, capping the existing sand bed Vol: 3 Issue: 11 November 2014 Built Expressions PG135