A spurt in ammonia level in Yamuna has left its water beyond treatment forcing the closure of Wazirabad and Chandrawal plants on Friday, and severely affecting areas falling under NDMC including lutyens’ zone. The development has prompted the Delhi Government to take up the matter with Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti.
“Both plants were closed again due to presence of high level of ammonia. I have called a high-level emergency DJB meeting at Wazirabad plant at 8:30 pm,” Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra tweeted.
The plants, which serve water to large parts of the Capital, were made partially functional on Thursday. Authorities were forced to close them first on the evening of January 19.
“The level of ammonia is between 2-2.5 ppm (parts per million). I have spoken to Uma Bharti and she has promised to take up the matter with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar,” Mishra said.
“Corrective measures are being taken and authorities concerned are present at the plants to check on the water restoration,” said CEO, DJB Keshav Chandra. “We will wait for the pollutant level to come down and thereby we are taking steps to prevent further entry of other pollutants in downstream Yamuna,” added Chandra. Earlier, Delhi Chief Secretary KK Sharma had written to his Haryana counterpart apprising him of the “deteriorating” water quality and sought his intervention for taking necessary steps to prevent entry of pollutants into the water.
Meanwhile, water supply will be severely affected in New Delhi Municipal Corporation areas which include the lutyens’ zone, North Delhi, North West Delhi, Central Delhi and parts of West and South Delhi. The facility of water is been catered by water tankers those will be available at telephone nos, 29941825 (Sarita Vihar), 26100644 (R K Puram), 29234746, 29234747 (Greater Kailash I), 23814338, 23810930 (Chandrawal Water Emergency), 27304656 (Ashok Vihar Water Emergency), 27700789, 27700474 (Holambi Kalan), 25274679, 25275259, 25275260 (Paschim Vihar), and 1916, 23538495, 23527679 (Central Control Room).