Joint study group and surveillance squad to check ammoniacal nitrogen in Yamuna
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) convened a meeting on January 04, with the officials of Delhi Pollution Control Committee(DPCC), Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Irrigation & Water Resources Department, Haryana and Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Delhi, to discuss the recurring issue of increase in Ammonical Nitrogen in River Yamuna and short and long term remedial actions required.
The long deliberations on the issue identified and agreed that possible reasons could be discharge of untreated sewage from upstream towns in Haryana, discharge from industrial units, Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), illegal discharge of sewage from unsewered colonies in outer Delhi through tankers, lean flow in the River Yamuna and anaerobic decomposition of accumulated sludge on river bed.
A study group comprising Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Haryana, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Delhi has been constituted. The group will review uniform monitoring protocol and requirement of strengthening monitoring mechanism, analyse past data and carry out field survey to identify critical hotspots as well as period of high ammonia levels. It has also been asked to suggest short and long term measures for sustained solutions, and submit its report within a month. It was also agreed to constitute a Joint Surveillance Squad comprising DJB, DPCC, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Delhi, HSPCB and Irrigation and Water Resources Department,Haryana.

It is a well known fact that there is illegal discharge of industrial affluents and untreated sewage into the Yamuna river as well as all rivers in the country. Even the Hon'ble Supreme Court had in the past pointed out that pollution control board officials are corrupt. There should have been regular surveillance to identify discharge of sewage to keep our rivers and other waterbodies clean. Nevertheless, even if regular surveillance is done now still the water quality will improve. However, given the past track records it is very difficult to be optimistic.