Ghaziabad City Council has started purifying the water in 11 large untreated drains before it flows into the Hindon.
“In the first phase, we physically clean the drain in Pratap Vihar. We have built dams in various places that help improve dissolved oxygen (DO) levels by mixing the water with the air. With the help of machines, we will also mechanically pump in 100 liters of oxygen per minute, ”said MS Tanwar, community commissioner.
The citizen body has set up several teams to visit each section of the sewer system and use earthmoving machines to remove debris from inside.
Twocheck dams have been built in Pratap Vihar, which are more likely to be built as needed, and 10 pumps inject air at each drain. The agency will also add algae to wastewater, which can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, but are also an important food source for aquatic life.
The city discharges almost 286 million liters of sewage daily into the Hindon, which eventually flows into the Yamuna. The untreated water reduced the oxygen content of the river to less than 2 milligrams per liter (mg / l) of water and made life in the water almost impossible. However, the citizen body hopes that its efforts will help raise the oxygen level to 5 to 8 mg / l.
The 11 outflows identified as part of the project are located next to their tributaries in Arthala, in the city forest, in Dasna, in Hindon Vihar, in Karhera, in Kaila Bhatta, in Nandgram, in Pratap VIhar, in Rahul Vihar, in Indirapuram and in Brij Vihar .
The project will cover all drains for the next three months, officials said.
The UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) statistics showed an annual average oxygen level in the Hindon River of 1.67 mg / l in Karhera, 1.25 mg / l in Mohan Nagar and 0.38 mg / l in Chijarsi in Ghaziabad.
For the purpose of implementation and monitoring, the company has also set up an environmental cell in which officials and experts are specially hired for the project. To prevent waste from entering the river, the drains are also covered with iron grids.
“We decided on various methods that were determined in consultation with experts and renowned institutes. We will introduce diatoms (a type of algae) that we will cultivate in our laboratories in the 11 drains. We will also introduce other microorganisms that originate from the upper regions of the river. This will help increase the oxygen levels, ”said Dr. Umar Saifi, an environmental planner hired by the company for the project.
A floating island
But too much algae can also be a problem as it is a sign that the water is rich in nutrients that plants will absorb and cover the entire body of water, blocking its flow.
To achieve the dual goal of removing pollutants and improving life, the drains will also have floating islands – natural or man-made surfaces with water-based plants.
According to Dr. Umar, the roots of the plant will be under the water, taking in the nutrients. This will remove excess nutrients.
“This will help reduce the odor in the drains while also serving as a habitat for aquatic life. We also plan to have small ponds near drains that receive treated water, ”he said.
Experts said the processes adopted by the company will help increase the oxygen levels in the river.
“The processes used to clean drains work to a certain extent, but the water in the drains should be free of chemicals, pesticides, or industrial waste. Otherwise microorganisms will be killed. The revitalization of Hindon and its tributaries is a long way off and requires a concerted effort from all districts to the west of UP, ”said river activist Dr. Chandravir Singh, retired scientist from a government environmental agency.
Singh filed several petitions with the National Green Tribunal regarding the polluted state of the Hindon River and its impact on groundwater in villages in western Uttar Pradesh.
“If the processes produce better results, they should also be implemented in upstream districts. The monthly data released by UPPCB also shows that the river is performing poorly on various parameters such as DO and others, “said Vikrant Sharma, a city-based environmentalist and member of Hindon Jal Biradiri.
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