RTI replies of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) have revealed that its water quality does not meet the prescribed standard of primary water quality criteria for bathing as per the notification under the Environment (Protection) Rules with respect to Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), total Coliform and pH levels, which are higher than the prescribed standard.
Replies of both CPCB and UPPCB have disclosed that <g data-gr-id="28">quantity</g> of Fecal Coliform in water is 2,00,000 MPN per 100 ml as against the permitted limit which is less than 2,500 MPN per 100 ml. Total Coliform in water has been found to be 3,00,000 MPN per 100 ml as against the limit which is less than 5,000 MPN per ml.
Components like DO and BOD have been found to be at 3.4 mg per litre and 51.5 mg per litre <g data-gr-id="29">respectively,</g> while the prescribed standards are four and less than three mg per litre respectively. The pH level in the river has been found to be 7.5 while the prescribed is 6.5.
The UPPCB has disclosed that there are as many as 172 industrial units of six districts — Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur, which discharge toxic water into the Hindon. Shockingly, the pollution control department has no information about <g data-gr-id="30">existence</g> of floral and faunal species in the river and even about fishes and turtles.
The UPCCB has claimed that there is no flow of untreated sewage and municipal waste in any district from where the river passes.
“Effluents discharged from sugar and paper mills, slaughter houses and chemical industries in Uttar Pradesh are deteriorating the water quality of the Hindon, so much so that the water is not fit for bathing. Replies of CPCB and UPPCB shows that the water in Hindon does not meet the prescribed standard of primary water quality criteria for bathing.
“Industries in Ghaziabad <g data-gr-id="25">too</g> dump their untreated waste into the river. We are very doubtful about the quality of effluent management systems that exist in the factories and industries in the city. The proof lies in the rapid degradation of the river itself,” said Aruna Vashistha, vice-president of Society for Protection of Environment and Biodiversity, an NGO which had filed the RTI.