“Delhi Jal Board Chief Challenges Kejriwal’s ‘Yamuna Poison’ Allegations as Misleading”

On Monday, Shilpa Shinde, the CEO of the Delhi Jal Board, refuted claims made by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal that the Haryana government had discharged “toxic substances” into the Yamuna River.

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In a letter addressed to Delhi’s chief secretary Dharmendra, Shinde dismissed the allegations as “factually incorrect, baseless, and misleading,” highlighting the potential damage such statements could inflict on interstate relations and public trust, as reported by PTI.

What were Kejriwal’s accusations?

In a post in Hindi on X, the AAP leader accused individuals linked to the BJP in Haryana of contaminating water destined for Delhi.

“If residents of Delhi consume this water, many could perish. Can anything be more abhorrent than this? The toxins being introduced into the water cannot even be eliminated in treatment facilities. To ensure public safety, water supply must be halted in several areas,” he remarked.

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Previously, Kejriwal accused the BJP-led Haryana government of polluting the raw water that reaches Delhi, likening the situation to “biological warfare” and hinting at the potential for mass casualties in the capital.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also held a news conference where she accused Haryana of deliberately releasing industrial waste into the Yamuna.

What did the Delhi Jal Board state?

Nevertheless, Shinde’s correspondence clarified that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) routinely monitors water quality and modifies treatment processes as necessary.

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“During winter, ammonia levels in the Yamuna naturally rise due to decreased flow and the conjunction of untreated sewage or industrial waste upstream. The DJB’s water treatment facilities are equipped to manage ammonia levels up to 1 ppm and can handle even higher concentrations, currently reaching 6.5 ppm, by diluting with water from the Carrier Lined Channel and Delhi Sub-Branch,” the letter outlined.

Shinde expounded that reduced flow during winter intensifies the effects of untreated sewage upstream, but that the Haryana government has already taken steps to tackle the issue, including laying down pipelines to meet National Green Tribunal directives.

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The DJB CEO called upon the chief secretary to relay the matter to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, indicating that such “fear-mongering statements” would not only mislead the residents of Delhi but also jeopardize relations with Haryana, an essential upstream state, PTI reported.

The chief secretary has since conveyed Shinde’s memo to the lieutenant governor, emphasizing its implications for interstate relations.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini also rejected Kejriwal’s allegations, asserting that the AAP-led government has a tendency to blame others for its own failings.

Concerns regarding the Yamuna

The cleanliness and quality of the Yamuna have emerged as significant topics amid the heated political landscape ahead of the February 5 Assembly elections in Delhi.

Water shortages in certain regions of the capital, caused by decreased treatment capacity at DJB facilities, have sparked considerable disputes between the AAP and BJP.

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While Shinde’s letter seeks to clarify the circumstances, it remains uncertain how these allegations will affect the ongoing political discourse surrounding Delhi’s water supply and interstate collaboration.

Political Responses

Congress candidate for the New Delhi assembly constituency, Sandeep Dikshit stated, “… Arvind Kejriwal must clarify what kind of poison was present in the water… He is lying and seemingly allowed to escape accountability. If an ordinary citizen accused the government of genocide, they would be incarcerated the very next day. I’m baffled as to why neither Haryana Police nor Delhi Police have taken action against him. Where is the election commission? It seems that either there is a covert alliance between the two parties (AAP and BJP) or these institutions are untroubled by such issues, even if it incites public panic… A case was filed against someone for making a bomb threat to schools in Delhi. Either Arvind Kejriwal’s claims are true—requiring him to provide evidence—or he should face legal consequences for his statements…”

AAP Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar remarked, “Regrettably, the BJP is playing dirty politics even concerning a matter like water. Delhi’s water originates from either Uttar Pradesh or Haryana. The water currently supplied by the Haryana government is contaminated. The ammonia level is 700 times higher, posing serious dangers to human health, and is unmanageable through treatment. This has been done maliciously to ensure that the people of Delhi consume this tainted water and face the blame, while the Aam Aadmi Party takes the fall…”

(Based on inputs from agencies)