A thick, toxic layer of froth reappeared on the Yamuna River at Kalindi Kunj ghat in Delhi on Sunday, covering large sections of the water surface and rendering stretches nearly invisible. The foam accumulated heavily around moored boats, clung to riverbank edges, and trapped dust particles, while scattered garbage—including plastic waste, bottles, flowers, chopped hair, and blades—littered the banks, intensifying the visual and environmental degradation.

Environmentalists conducting weekly clean-up drives at the site reported that pollution levels have noticeably worsened since the collective clean-up efforts during last year's Chhath festival in October. Volunteers highlighted that sustained government action following the festival could have significantly improved the river's condition, but the momentum was lost, allowing pollution to rebound sharply in December and January.

The latest Delhi Pollution Control Committee report, based on samples collected on December 3, 2025, shows alarmingly high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels—25 mg/l at ITO Bridge, 24 mg/l at ISBT Bridge, and 17 mg/l at Okhla Barrage—far exceeding the safe limit of 3 mg/l. Fecal coliform counts reached 92,000 MPN at ISBT Bridge, 54,000 at Nizamuddin Bridge, and 35,000 at ITO Bridge, against the Central Pollution Control Board's desirable limit of 500 and permissible limit of 2,500 per 100 ml, indicating severe sewage contamination.

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A National Green Tribunal bench recently observed that the primary cause of Yamuna pollution remains the discharge of treated, partially treated, and untreated sewage through various drains, particularly between Wazirabad Barrage and Asgharpur village. The toxic froth emits a strong stench, posing serious health hazards to volunteers and visitors, while the blanket of foam blocks sunlight from reaching the riverbed, killing aquatic plants that naturally filter pollutants and support ecosystem health.

Experts warn that the froth not only disrupts the river's ecology by preventing photosynthesis in submerged vegetation but also contributes to further water quality deterioration as dying plants release additional contaminants. Despite existing prohibitions, penalties of Rs 5,000 under the "polluter pays" principle, and designated disposal rules, enforcement remains weak, with inadequate signage, monitoring, and public awareness allowing continued waste dumping directly into the Yamuna.

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