Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has written to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) seeking immediate intervention regarding rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna River, which are reportedly impacting Delhi’s water supply.
Accusations Against Haryana
In her letter, CM Atishi highlighted the role of Haryana in the crisis. She referred to a note from the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO, which clarified that the DJB’s water treatment plants are only designed to treat ammonia levels up to 1 ppm. She pointed out that ammonia levels have spiked to over 7 ppm in the past two days—700% above the treatable limit—due to the mixing of untreated sewage and industrial waste from Haryana.
Impact on Water Supply and Public Health
Atishi stressed that these toxic ammonia levels have compromised Delhi’s water treatment plants, causing a 15 to 20% reduction in the water supply, affecting around 34 lakh people. She warned that the high ammonia levels in drinking water could lead to serious public health issues, such as kidney damage, respiratory distress, and long-term organ damage.
“Water Terrorism” Allegations
The Delhi CM condemned the situation as an act of “water terrorism,” accusing the Haryana Government of deliberately disrupting Delhi’s water supply to influence the upcoming elections. Atishi emphasized that this was not a case of negligence but a deliberate attempt to undermine free and fair elections by compromising public health.
Social Media Appeal for Action
In a social media post, Atishi expressed concern over ammonia levels remaining six times higher than normal in the Yamuna water entering Delhi from Haryana. She cautioned that such toxic levels would make the water undrinkable and unsafe for Delhi’s residents.
Request for Urgent Meeting with CEC
Atishi requested an urgent meeting with the CEC to address the issue and ensure that the elections are not affected by external forces. She urged the CEC to meet with her as soon as possible to discuss the matter.
Haryana CM’s Criticism of AAP
Haryana CM Nayab Saini responded by criticizing AAP’s allegations, accusing them of mismanaging water distribution and blaming others for the issue. He suggested a meeting between the chief secretaries of Delhi and Haryana to check the water quality at Sonipat, the point where the Yamuna enters Delhi.
