Chhath Puja – a major festival celebrated by millions in Hindi-speaking states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal – concluded Friday morning with devotees offering ‘arghya’ (sacred water) to the Sun amid severe air pollution and toxic foam floating in Delhi’s Yamuna River. Devotees from the Purvanchal belt residing in Delhi have long depended on the Yamuna to perform the Chhath rituals. However, the presence of toxic froth in Yamuna – one of the most polluted rivers of India – and dangerously high pollution levels in Delhi have always been a major cause of concern for them. The national capital’s worsening environmental crisis has consistently dampened the spirit of the auspicious festival over the years.
Severe Air And Water Pollution
Like in the past, this year too, Delhi’s air quality plummeted post-Diwali, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping from ‘severe’ to ‘very poor’ category and exceeding the 400 mark in several areas. As witnessed in the past, this year too, the major contributors behind this environmental crisis remain unchecked industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and stubble burning in Delhi and the neighbouring states like Haryana and Punjab, which creates a thick layer of toxic smog as winter sets in. What has further worsened the situation is the toxic foam in Yamuna – a result of untreated industrial and domestic waste flowing in the river – which exposes thousands of worshippers to hazardous chemicals.
The deplorable condition of Yamuna, the lack of adequate arrangements at the key ghats and the AAP government’s failure to ensure clean water and safe access for the devotees to observe Chhath rituals led to protests in several areas in Delhi including Kalindi Kunj and Preet Vihar. Though the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) made a concerted effort to dissolve foam using chemical defoamers, these measures have failed to clean the Yamun waters, evoking strong backlash for inadequate and temporary “band-aid” solutions rather than addressing the root causes of the problem.
The Blame Game
Delhi’s air pollution crisis has been a major flashpoint between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Opposition BJP, with the two parties engaging in the blame game. While the BJP accuses AAP of failing to control the pollution menace, the ruling AAP blames stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana as major contributors. This blame game, however, has done no good to the national capital and failed to yield effective, solutions to the pollution crisis, leaving residents and worshippers frustrated.
What Needs To Be Done?
With winter pollution becoming an annual phenomenon, Delhi urgently needs a multi-faceted approach to tackle its environmental crisis. The air quality in the national capital region can improve with stringent vehicular restrictions, better waste management, and sustainable farming practices to reduce stubble burning. Additionally, industrial compliance is vital for the Yamuna’s restoration, as untreated waste flows remain a significant issue.
Every year, millions of Chhath devotees face unsafe and unhygienic conditions as they try to observe the Chhath ritual. Their frustration and anger point to a deeper issue: a growing crisis of faith in authorities who seem more intent on passing the blame than on delivering solutions. As Delhiites continue to cope up with the harmful effects of air and water pollution and poor governance, it remains to be seen if those in power will genuinely address these pressing needs or simply make empty promises for vote-bank appeasement.
