Taking a dig at the BJP leaders’ accusation that the Delhi Government is spraying poisonous chemicals in the Yamuna River in order to clean it before the Chhath Puja, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said that “BJP leaders should learn some science and technology and the Delhi Jal Board’s (DJB) anti-foaming technology (so-called chemicals) has also been recommended by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), a Central Government agency.”
In a press statement, AAP spokesperson and DJB Vice-Chairman Bhardwaj said, “It’s absolutely stupid and incorrect to say that a poisonous chemical is being used to suppress the foam in Yamuna. All chemicals don't mean poison. Even Chlorine and Alum that are used to clean water are chemicals.”
“Notably, the Delhi Jal Board had started preparations to reduce foaming in the Yamuna over a month ago for Chhath Puja to allow devotees to offer prayers to Surya Devta,” Bhardwaj said.
The DJB is regularly monitoring the parameters downstream of Okhla Barrage through its Okhla Sewage Testing Laboratory that is an ISO and NABL accredited laboratory. The reports of the tests done recently at the lab reveal that the quality parameters of Yamuna water after spraying have improved, he said.
“The reports also reveal that the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels have reached 4.42 mg/litre which authenticates that the chemical is not poisonous and has in fact improved the quality of the Yamuna water post spraying of the approved diluted chemical,” he said.
Earlier the AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said issues concerning the Yamuna, schools and hospitals in the national Capital were taken care of in the 2020 Assembly election and the forthcoming civic body polls will be centered around the city's cleanliness and garbage-related problems.
Bhardwaj said, “All data from various tests shows that the quality of Yamuna water has improved steadily and continuously under the Delhi Government. We are committed to clean the river by 2025 as pledged by our Chief Minister while respecting and protecting the religious rights of all.”
“The BJP leaders should give up the dilatory practices and rather answer the real questions concerning the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections that are about to take place. People want to know what the present local body has done with regards to the issues like garbage and cleanliness in the past 15 years. They can’t run away from the real issues,” Bhardwaj added.