Yamuna Foundation - Summary of Activities for 2001

Greetings from Blue Yamuna
A Foundation Dedicated to Turn the Yamuna Water Blue

Summary of Activities for 2001

For the past eight years we have been working on the Yamuna remediation project with some cooperation, but no resources or financial support, from the Government of Delhi. We have prepared preliminary designs and plans for a wetland treatment system demonstration project back in April 1993, and submitted that to the Delhi Water Board. No action has yet been taken by them. However, our attempts have surely made some impacts in terms of awareness and drive amongst local citizens. The 13.8 million people of greater Delhi generate over 650 million gallons of wastewater per day, which flows, mostly untreated, into the Yamuna river through 17 major drains. Our continued effort with the support of local associations, such as, the Lions Club Delhi Capital, has resulted into two major decisions by the Supreme Court (April 2001) mandating the Delhi Government to (i) stop further discharge of untreated sewage/wastewater into the Yamuna river and (ii) cleanup the Yamuna river by March 31, 2003. Although we can not discern the implications of such mandates, the focus of the Yamuna cleanup effort surely got a much better momentum by such promulgation.

The specific projects and related activities that we undertook in 2001 are summarized below:

1. Visit to the Agra Sector of the Yamuna River

We were invited by a group of people from Agra to visit the Yamuna sites there and to grasp a general view of the extent of pollution in the river. We accommodated the request and arranged for a visit on December 16, 2000 along with a team of volunteers (Mr. Brij Khandelwal, Mr. Vinay Paliwal, Mr. Shravan Kumar, Mr. Surendra Sharma, Mr. Raman, and Mr. D.K. Mital) from Delhi and Agra. The team first visited Sur Sarovar, a vast (1766 acres) wetland Northeast of Mathura, where water hyacinths were observed to have taken over the wetland limiting the entry of sunlight causing serious anaerobic condition at the bottom and thus impeding effective sequestration of contaminants. This vast wetland can be rejuvenated to a very effective cleanup system. We are discussing with various entities to look into that option and a short proposal is being written up for funding a detail study by a technical team from here.

We visited the Gau Ghat area, South of Mathura next, and noticed floating oil globules in the Yamuna water. We took two samples - brought one to US and given the other to the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi, for their analysis. The Yamuna water sample from the Agra (Gau Ghat) area was analyzed by the EPA certified laboratory, STL Baltimore using the EPA method 418.1. The analysis report is over 25 pages and includes a complete QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control) and many other information. Because of the impromptu sampling, the quantity and the containers were not the best that could be used for analyzing the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) by the Laboratory. The result showed TPH at less than 19,000 ppb or 19 mg/l. According to the Lab Manager the TPH content could be many times higher, if we had one litre of sample instead of 50 CC. So, easily a factor of 20 could be added here, plus the oil sheen on the inside of the plastic bottle was visible, but could not be rinsed with Freon, because plastic would melt with Freon. In standard procedure, a glass sampling jar is used, and the inside wall is rinsed with Freon to recover the hydrocarbon film . So, the conclusion that could be drawn from this sampling event, supported by analysis, visual records, and pictures, is that the petroleum hydrocarbon is getting into the Yamuna river somewhere between the Sur Sarobar (where the water did not have any floating globules) and Gau Ghat. It could possibly be leaching into the river bed through perched groundwater, since the globules were predominant only on the central flow area of the river and not along the bank. The above report was sent to Agra and it made headlines in the local newspapers there. Investigations and interviews were undertaken by the Blue Yamuna team members, but without a strong support from the local Government they are still stagnating to come up with a complete and methodical investigation to identify the source and to initiate a remedy.

2. Identifying Feasible Locations for Floating Aeration Devices in Greater Agra area

In January 2001 our engineers and field assistants in India visited the Agra area and conducted a detail feasibility study of four different sites.

A field report containing details of the four sites visited by the team has been received. The drains identified in the study were:

Site 1 - Bhairon Nullah
Site 2 - Mantolla Nullah
Site 3 - Drain near Agra Water Works
Site 4 - Drain near Haathi Ghat

Out of the above four sites, the drain near Agra Water Works (Site # 3) could be effectively used for installation of a floating aeration device. Site #2 could also be used for such an installation. Two proposals have been submitted to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Trade and Development Agency for funding the installation of a few such devices on a demonstration basis. The proposal also includes our plan for installation of the following systems:

A Wetland Treatment System
Two Floating Aeration Devices
A few Deep Pond System to treat 1,500,000 gallons of raw sewage (i.e 1.5 MGD) by each one of the Deep Pond Systems.

3. Earthquake Relief to the Kutch Area, NW India:

After the serious devastation by an earthquake at 08:46 hrs. on January 26, 2001, affecting Bhuj, Kutch, Surat, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot distt, Surendranagar distt, and Jamnagar, in Northwestern India,

We took an active step to help the victims. The quake affected area along with the camp area of the Yamuna team is shown above.

We got support from many patrons of the Yamuna Foundations to carry out the relief work. The "Blue Yamuna" team (Mr. Shravan Kumar, Mr. Sucharit (Diplu) Dutta, Mr. D.K. Mital and others) coordinated with the authorities in New Delhi, and stayed in close touch with the Gujarat Bhawan in New Delhi, from Day 1 of the devastating earthquake. They bought some supplies from Delhi and went to Mumbai (Bombay) first, where they met with two main organizations: the Kutch Yuvak Sangh (Mr. Bharat Karani) and the Rotary Club of Mumbai (Mr. Prakash Shah, President). With active assistance from both of those organizations in making preparations and arrangements for the visit to the impact area, one member of the Yamuna team (Diplu Dutta) went to the Kutch area. Diplu wrote the following note from Mumbai, India upon his return from the quake affected area:

"...returned from Kutch (Gandhidham) and Bhachau after 52hrs. The emotional trauma of the survivors of the Gujarat Earthquake may be harder to deal with than needs such as food and shelter. While so many other aspects of relief and rehabilitation are moving forward, we can't afford to overlook the great need for emotional support that still exsists. I have reached Gandhidham on feb.16 at 10.30 A.M. by Kutch exp.from Mumbai central. Hired a autorikshaw and visited many places of quake effected area for six hours only in Gandhidham covering 20 sq.km and taken few pictures.I know the amount of releif being sent from Yamuna foundation to me for distribution may be a drop in the ocean of required relief for such a disaster in GujaratI have tried in many relief centre to donate the materials I carried with me, but, they were busy offering lunch in the camp. Entry was restricted . I was allowed to give only in one camp in Dushera Maidan(old court) in Gandhidham which is 2 km.from NH-8A. I have given Chashew nuts, nestle everyday (powdered milk), Real pineapple juice/orange juice, Cadburys dairy milk/Nestle kitkat, and phenyl as a disinfectant liquid..."

Further donations were also made through the Rotary club, Swamy nathan Temple(Dadar), Kutch yavak sangh etc. Following the visit to the area, Tents and Tarpaulines have been shipped by the Blue Yamuna team through the Rotary Club of Mumbai.

4. Yamuna Conference in Agra on June 5, 2001

The Yamuna team in Agra convened on June 5, 2001 to discuss various issues involving pollution and remediation of the Yamuna river. The conference was attended by many local enthusiasts. Excerpts from our message sent to the conference is provided below:

"Ladies and Gentleman and members of the Blue Yamuna Team:

1. Your thoughts, wishes, and acts towards cleaning up the Yamuna river will go a long way in supporting the goal of the Yamuna cleanup effort.

2. I'd like each of you to take one simple step towards preventing pollution from going into the Yamuna River. This may include forming a subcommittee in your neighborhood and ensure pollution-free discharges into the drain in your area.

3. Through active coordination and interaction you can jointly develop an action agenda and present that to the authorities and help them to start implementing that agenda in a step by step process.

4. You should focus your attention on the Yamuna cleanup effort by first identifying all of the feeder drains that pollute the river Yamuna and then pursue the most beneficial and practicable option for prioritizing the cleanup. Remember that clean discharges from these drains will lead to a clean and blue Yamuna one day.

My very best wishes and deep empathy accompanies this message."

5. Study of Pollution Sources in the Barak River Valley in Greater Silchar Area

During our last visit to the Silchar area in December 2000, we have noticed some areas of concern in the Barak River valley. Since the Barak river supports the bathing and drinking needs of people residing in towns and cities along her bank, the Yamuna foundation have initiated a study to look into the preliminary identification of some of the key pollution areas of the Barak river. We have asked one of our local associate in Silchar to conduct a study and provide the following information:

1. Identification of the Pollution points of the Barak river in the greater Silchar area including Panchgram, and Katakhal,

2. Development of a sketch of the river with its flow direction and location of cities/villages that it touches,

3. Photographic coverage of any observed or potential pollution in the river or river bank,

4. Preparation of detail field notes with dates/times of the visits and any other relevant observations

5. Recording any causes of pollution observable in the immediate vicinity of the river in this area, and

6. Providing us with any existing reports or literature about the pollution in the Barak river.

6. Construction of a Charitable Dispensary in Ramkrishnanagar

The village of Ramkrishnanagar is located in one of the farthest corner in the southeastern part of the State of Assam, India. It is located about 30 miles Southwest of Karimganj . The nearest airport is Silchar (Airline code: IXS), India, which has daily commercial flights from Kolikata (formerly Calcutta), India

The village of Ramkrishnanagar (RK Nagar) is somewhat remote from the busy metropolitan environment and highly populated cities of India. It has electricity in only major part of the village. No street lights or outside lights illuminate the night sky in that village of about 5,000 people. Stars and planets solemnly decorate the unimpeded night sky here. The air is still fresh and only counted number of automobiles move during the day. The roads connecting the RK Nagar to the nearest towns are full of potholes which sometimes becomes impassable during heavy rains. Our visits were always during the Winter/Fall months and so far we didn't face complete inaccessibility to the area.

The villagers there have no access to a medical facility. Many children fall victims of diseases, maltreatment, and no treatment ending their lives even before they reach adulthood. We noticed this problem a few years ago. Due to flooding in the neighboring rivers, canals, and nearby Shon Bill, one of the largest wetland in the area, the villagers face serious problems and often get cut off from the outside world with inaccessible roads. As a first step to provide help to the villagers, we have initiated a small project to build a charitable dispensary with the help of Dr. K.K. Das from Binghamton, NY, who has been working out of the Red Cross Hospital in Silchar, India for the past ten years or so. Dr. K.K. Das is making arrangements for placing paramedics and necessary operational arrangements to run this charitable dispensary. This dispensary is expected to bring new hopes to these children, and a feeling of great comfort and support to the villagers. The Yamuna foundation has started construction of the building and hopes to complete that soon with help from the patrons. The next step for the foundation is to look into the serious hydrological problem in the area which causes frequent flooding of the farm lands and thereby destroys the crops and transmits diseases to the villagers. We will also be identifying the sources of pollution that are possibly invading the water bodies of this pristine environment.

Note: Rivers of the World (ROW) Foundation is a Tax-Exempt(501(c)3)Organization. All contributions to the ROW Foundation (Fed. Tax ID 26-062-3120 )qualify to be deductible from U.S. income taxes. All Rivers of the world foundation team members are participating in the Rivers/Stream restoration and protection activities on their personal time and contributing their personal funds. Not a single volunteer of the Foundation is receiving any compensation, rather they are paying towards the cause. They are conducting the activities in compliance with applicable regulations (US 18 U.S.C. 207 , 5 CFR 2635, and others; India - IPC for Ethics) in their respective countries. They are dedicated to Restore/Protect Rivers/Steams of the World and provide clean water for the poor and needy.