Polluted Rivers

'No river discharge at Maha Kumbh, toilet wastewater treated daily'

The Maha Kumbh management authorities on Monday said that they are treating wastewater from over 1.5 lakh toilets daily, ensuring zero discharge into the river. The waste management program at Maha Kumbh, which draws millions of visitors daily, is also serving as a model for large-scale events globally, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement. Special Executive Officer of Maha Kumbh Mela, Akanksha Rana, said, "The vision of a clean Maha Kumbh, inspired by PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath, is setting new milestones each day. Despite the massive influx of over 52 crore pilgrims, the vision of a garbage-free, plastic-free, and clean Kumbh has been successfully realized. Mahakumbh 2025 is now a model for future large-scale religious gatherings." She further highlighted that over 1.5 lakh toilets, including soak-pits, FRP, and mobile units, have been set up across the mela area. A QR code-based monitoring system ensures real-time maintenance, while jet spray cleaning ...

Fecal coliform levels in Yamuna continue to soar in Delhi

Pollution levels in Yamuna river in Delhi remain high with fecal coliform concentrations peaking at 79 lakh units per 100 ml (MPN) at Asgarpur where the river exits Delhi, according to the latest water quality report for November. The figure matches the peak recorded in October, which was the highest concentration since December 2020, data from Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) showed. Fecal coliform, a marker of sewage contamination, has a permissible limit of 2,500 units per 100 ml, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The last recorded instance of higher levels was in December 2020, when concentrations reached 120 crore units per 100 ml. The DPCC's monthly water quality report, released in compliance with a National Green Tribunal order, highlighted that while fecal coliform levels at Palla -- where the river enters Delh -- were 1,100 units per 100 ml, the concentration rose significantly downstream as sewage-laden drains entered the river. Dissolved oxygen

IIT-G researchers develop model to understand water flow in braided rivers

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IITG) in collaboration with the Brahmaputra Board, under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, have developed a model to understand the flow of water in large braided rivers. The initiative is aimed at providing valuable insights to engineers to design sustainable structures for river bank protection measures, a researcher said on Friday. The model - BRAHMA-2D (Braided River Aid: Hydro-Morphological Analyzer) - was successfully validated on the Brahmaputra river near Majuli Island, the second largest freshwater river island in the world and prone to river bank erosion. It will help understand how fast water moves at different depths in a river, he said. The research, led by Prof Arup Kumar Sarma of the Department of Civil Engineering, has developed the comprehensive mathematical model to help predict river flow variations across depths, which is "crucial for flood and erosion control, agriculture, water supply intake design a

How villagers living near coal power plants lost health, water security

Fly ash from two thermal power plants in Nagpur has caused water insecurity in the city along with severe breathing problems and ailments. The ash has polluted the air and water of the nearby area

Ensure no untreated waste is discharged into Yamuna: Satyendar Jain

Delhi Water and Industries Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday directed officials to connect stormwater drains carrying industrial waste to the common effluent treatment plants

Protecting India's river basins

Large structural changes to river channels can lead to unforeseen and dangerous hydrological, social and ecological consequences

Maharashtra: Most industrialised state is also home to most polluted rivers

With 49 of India's 302 polluted sites, the state recorded the highest number of river stretches where industrial effluents were dumped between 2008 and 2012