Govt. plans to redesign Kalindi Kunj barrage to tackle Yamuna froth

The Delhi government is looking at a possible revamp of the Kalindi Kunj barrage slope to solve the problem of froth in Yamuna river in the area, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh’s office said on Thursday. The Minister recently visited the barrage along with experts from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and officials of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

The Minister said the slope at the barrage is one of the major reasons for the froth formation and a study will be carried out by IIT Roorkee to find a solution to this and whether the slope can be redesigned to reduce its height.

The government also plans to relocate the dhobi ghats in the area and stricter enforcement of norms at dyeing units in the area to reduce the pollution load in the river.

Every year during Chhath Puja, the pollution of the river returns to the headlines with national and international media publishing images of devotees standing in the polluted river covered with toxic froth at Kalindi Kunj.

For the past many years, DJB workers on boats spray de-foaming agent on the froth floating on the river to suppress it.

Froth is formed mainly due of the presence of surfactants such as phosphates in the effluents flowing into the river and when the surfactant-contaminated water falls from the barrage, it produces froth, the Minister’s office said.

The Delhi government also plans to build a new Chhath Ghat near the barrage at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore, as per the Minister’s office.

‘₹7,000-cr. fund’

Delhi, meanwhile, is also expected to receive Central funds to the tune of ₹7,000 crore in the current fiscal for works in priority areas, including road and infrastructure development, and Yamuna cleaning, officials said. Proposals worth ₹1,000 crore – especially for Public Works Department and DJB projects – have been sent for the Centre’s approval, they said.

(With inputs from PTI)