Dust from drying Yamuna creating pockmarks on monuments: Environmentalists

Environmentalists on Sunday claimed that the dust emanating from the drying Yamuna river is creating pockmarks on historical monuments and demanded arrangements be made to ensure minimum flow of water in the river.

River Connect Campaign activists held a protest here against the "deplorable" condition of the Yamuna.

"The dry river is a threat not only to the environment as it raises the SPM (suspended particulate matter) level in the air, but also to the historical monuments along its banks, including the Taj Mahal," activist Jyoti Vishal Jha said.

Environmentalist Shravan Kumar Singh said the dust level continues to rise alarmingly in the city.

"This is because there is no water in Yamuna and the dust raised from the river bed hits the surface of monuments, creating pockmarks," he said.

The activists demanded desilting of Yamuna for minimum flow of water in the river.