Toxicant Levels in Yamuna River Raise Concerns Ahead of Chhath Puja 2025

New Delhi | October 24, 2025 — As millions of devotees prepare to offer prayers during Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna, fresh concerns have emerged over the quality of river water. Officials and environmental activists point to lingering toxicants — notably foam-forming chemicals and untreated effluent residue — in stretches of the river flowing through Delhi. Although recent government interventions have improved flow and reduced surface foam, experts caution that the underlying pollution remains a significant public-health and ecological risk.

Government Claims and River Interventions

In recent weeks, the Indian and Delhi governments announced a series of measures to refresh the Yamuna ahead of Chhath. The Central Water Commission (CWC) reported that since Tuesday evening no water was diverted from the Hathnikund Barrage into the Eastern and Western Yamuna Canals; instead, the full inflow of 130.2 cumecs was channelled into the main stream — peaking at nearly 294 cumecs.
Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has asserted that the river is now “cleaner than before” and that no toxic foam has been observed at key ghats such as Kalindi Kunj.
Officials claim that major desilting operations (removing 25,000–35,000 metric tonnes of silt), upgrading of sewage-treatment plants (STPs), and tighter industrial-effluent monitoring have improved key parameters such as biological-oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels.

What the Activists Are Saying

Despite official optimism, river-environment groups say the improvements are superficial and time-limited. Yamuna activist Bhim Singh Rawat of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) argues that festival-linked releases of higher flows are more “photo-op” than sustainable. He points out that while the minimum environmental-flow requirement for Delhi is 10 cumecs, a 2019 study by the National Institute of Hydrology recommended 23 cumecs.
Further, foam-generating agents used earlier and large volumes of untreated sewage upstream continue to raise alarm. A recent video investigation noted that the same anti-foaming chemical previously condemned as “poisonous” is again being used by the Delhi government.

Toxicants Under Consideration

Experts highlight three broad classes of pollutants:

• White foam on the river surface — caused by high concentrations of phosphates, surfactants, and detergents from untreated sewage or industrial discharge.
• High BOD/low DO conditions — indicating oxygen-starved water which cannot support healthy aquatic life. Several stretches of the Yamuna in Delhi still fail basic bathing-water criteria.
• Heavy-metal and chemical effluent residues — though less visible, these deeper-water contaminants may pose health risks to devotees who stand knee-deep in water during Chhath rituals.

Implications for Devotees and Eco-System

Millions of Chhath devotees perform rituals standing ankle-deep in the Yamuna at ghats such as Kalindi Kunj and Boat Club. Even in the absence of visible foam, the presence of underlying pollutants means there remains a risk of skin infections, respiratory irritation, or ingestion of contaminant-laden water if splashing occurs.
Ecologically, inadequate flow and residual toxicants continue to hamper the river’s ability to sustain fish, amphibians and aquatic plants. The persistent pollution also undermines efforts to integrate the Yamuna into Delhi’s urban-ecological revival.

What to Watch Going Forward

• Will the higher flows be maintained after the festival, or revert quickly? Many critics believe the elevated release is temporary.
• Are all major drains and industrial effluent points being independently monitored, especially during the festival period?
• Will government-announced improvements reflect in measurable parameters such as BOD < 3 mg/L and DO > 5 mg/L — benchmarks long used by river-restoration studies?
• Will devotees be advised on water-contact risks — especially if early-morning fog or low-visibility compromises safety?

Conclusion

As Chhath Puja 2025 approaches, the Yamuna’s condition remains a mixture of progress and persistent challenge. Authorities have clearly stepped up cleanup, desilting and flow-management efforts. Yet the core issue — the presence of toxicants and untreated effluent loading — continues to shadow the festival’s ritualistic immersion in the river. For the sake of millions of worshippers and a fragile urban ecosystem, sustained, transparent action beyond the festive season will determine whether the Yamuna truly becomes safe and clean.