Gurugram: River Yamuna is dying because of its pollution, and drains in Gurugram are only contributing more to the degradation of the river.
A recent survey by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) reported that all the drains in the city dump almost six crore litres of untreated sewage into the Yamuna, which flows most prominently in the national Capital.
It was earlier estimated that 39 drains in Gurugram flow into the Yamuna. However, latest figures has revealed the number to be 79.
Officials of public agencies now highlight that a new mechanism will be created wherein the connection of such drains will be cut and process to treat the sewage water will be undertaken.
The GMDA survey comes at a time when concerns have been raised on how the water levels in the city and areas around it are receding.
The worst affected area is the Sultanpur Bird park, where concerns of receding water level are alarming.
Set up in 1972, the bird park only location in Haryana where a large number of foreign and domestic birds come and breed. The sanctuary was declared as a national park in 1991.
In addition to the receding water level, the bird park also suffers from poor maintenance by its management.
The issue was raised prominently by Gururgam Lok Sabha MP Rao Inderjit Singh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the latter's recent Gurugram rally.
To preserve ground water levels, authorities now plan to divert water that goes to the Yamuna from the city towards Sultanpur.
Even as there are plans to build a sewage water treatment plant at Daultabad, there is not yet a clear deadline by when this plant will become operational.
The low water level has significantly affected the number of migratory birds coming to the park.
Built during the British era, water embarkments at the Sultanpur bird park not only used to drain out water, but also brought rich silts into the region from the annual flooding in the Yamuna river.