New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) People in several parts of Delhi might again have to grapple with water shortages as two major treatment plants are likely to be shut down and supplies curtailed for the next few days following high ammonia levels in the Yamuna river, a Delhi Jal Board official said.
The residents of north, central and parts of west and south Delhi might be affected as water supplies from two treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal have been curtailed since noon Tuesday and the plant is likely to be shut down, he said.
The two plants supply 210 million gallons of water per day on an average, making up for one-third of Delhi's demand.
"The ammonia content in the Yamuna raw water is against the normal quantity of 0.6 ppm (parts per million) but we are yet to ascertain the exact level of ammonia content in the river," the official told IANS.
According to the board, the ammonia levels are frequently rising because of the indiscriminate discharge of industrial and domestic waste into the Yamuna from Panipat in Haryana.
"The water supply at the two plants was curtailed by 35 percent at 1:00 p.m Tuesday.
"If the pollution levels increase in the Yamuna river further both the plants may have to be shut down," the offcial said.
He also said that the water supply Tuesday night will be curtailed so as to supply water Wednesday morning as many people celebrate the Mahasivaratri festival.
The DJB official also stated that they have intimated the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) about the situation and requested to take appropriate action.
Due to high levels of ammonia levels in the Yamuna waters reaching Delhi from Haryana several parts of the city was left without water for three days from Feb 14 to 16.
Meanwhile, Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said in Rajya Sabha Tuesday that "the state government of Haryana has been requested to prevent the flow of untreated industrial and domestic waste water into the river Yamuna."
He said he has also asked the state pollution control board to monitor river water quality and waste water treatment and take stiff action against the polluters.