After toxic foam was seen floating on the Yamuna River as pollution levels in the river continue to rise, Environmentalist Vimlendu K Jha called the phenomena an absolute travesty of environmental governance in Delhi.

“We have yet again seen river Yamuna having a lot of froth floating on its surface…it is an absolute travesty of environmental governance in Delhi…we have seen the sources of pollution which is from primarily Delhi, of course, Delhi govt would like to blame this on other states. Indeed there are other states also that are responsible because Yamuna flows through these states but primary responsibility for Yamuna’s pollution is Delhi’s own pollution, the 17 drains that actually empty into Yamuna in Delhi..,” Vimlendu K Jha told ANI.
Earlier, speaking to ANI, Professor Sachchida Nand Tripathi, Dean of the Kotak School of Sustainability at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, said, “The effect of froth on the Yamuna River is dangerous. The frequent occurrence of froth is primarily due to the large amounts of surfactants from soap, detergents, and other pollutants in untreated wastewater flowing into the river.”
“After the monsoon, the stable atmosphere and rising temperatures create ideal conditions for froth formation. Later, in October, when temperatures drop, it helps stabilise the froth. However, this froth contains harmful organic matter that releases volatile gases directly into the atmosphere. The partitioning of froth also releases volatile organic gases and semi-volatile organic compounds. These organic gases become precursors to secondary organic particulate matter,” he added.
He further stated that the froth also makes the water unhealthy for aquatic life.
An analysis of the Yamuna’s water quality, published by Sharma, showed that organic pollution, particularly from industrial and agricultural runoff, plays a significant role in the frothing problem by promoting microbial degradation and gas production.
Research indicates that organic compounds in polluted water can undergo phase partitioning between water and air, potentially forming secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with atmospheric oxidants.
This partitioning is influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, and the composition of organic matter in the water. In conditions with high levels of pollutants and surfactants, as seen in the Yamuna River, the potential for organic material to transfer into the air increases.
Studies have shown that the presence of water content and organic species in the liquid phase can enhance SOA formation by increasing the partitioning of volatile organic compounds into the air. This process is especially significant in urban areas with heavy pollution, similar to the conditions in the Yamuna River.-ANI