Delhi Launches Yamuna Anti Froth Measures Ahead Chhath Festival
As the Chhath festival approaches, Delhi authorities are gearing up to tackle the perennial problem of toxic froth on the Yamuna, aiming to ensure a safe and hygienic environment for millions of devotees. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department have rolled out a comprehensive plan combining technical interventions, monitoring, and infrastructure upgrades along the river.
Officials explained that froth formation, which intensifies after monsoon due to stabilised bubbles, has historically affected devotees wading into foam-covered waters. This year, interventions include deploying 10 powerboats equipped with divers and operators, temporary laboratories at Okhla for water quality monitoring, fabricated foam arresters, static sprinklers on barrages, and mobile sprinklers using anti-foam agents. Additionally, motorboats will be used to collect floating froth, while adjustments to barrage slopes are under consideration to reduce churning.
“Ensuring clean and safe sites on both eastern and western banks of the Yamuna is a priority,” said a senior official. The initiatives have been designed to combine safety with environmental responsibility, reflecting Delhi’s larger commitment to sustainable urban water management.
The I&FC department is investing ₹50 lakh in preparing new ghats along the Yamuna between Wazirabad barrage and the Old Railway Bridge. These sites will be levelled with excavators, fenced with bamboo, and outfitted with hoardings. The infrastructure improvements extend to popular ghats like Wazirabad near the Signature Bridge, and several upstream sites near the Old Railway Bridge. Notably, immersion in the river itself will be restricted, with celebrations taking place at designated banks, artificial ponds, and canals to minimise environmental impact.
With over four million residents from the Poorvanchali community in Delhi, Chhath has evolved into one of the city’s most significant cultural events. Authorities have mapped 929 ritual sites from Palla in the north to Okhla in the south, indicating the scale of the festival and the operational challenge. The coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, including monitoring teams and emergency response divers, aim to mitigate both safety hazards and environmental concerns while facilitating religious observances.
Experts have highlighted that the froth results from a combination of untreated sewage, detergents, industrial effluents, and decomposing water hyacinth, a problem mirrored in other Indian cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Delhi’s initiative this year emphasises preventive and sustainable management rather than reactive measures, reflecting an increasing focus on urban environmental governance.
The government’s proactive planning represents a balance between cultural traditions and public safety, ensuring that festivities can proceed without compromising water quality or human health. This integrated approach also signals a shift towards environmentally conscious urban management practices in the national capital.
