The Delhi High Court recently ruled against allowing Chhath Puja at the Yamuna riverbank in Geeta Colony, citing severe health risks due to pollution levels. The court, with Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, voiced strong concerns about the danger to devotees’ health, emphasizing the river’s contamination. "The river is so polluted that if you dip into it, there is the likelihood that…[a] person will suffer harm. We can’t allow that. The river itself is highly polluted," the judges noted in a statement.

The Chhath Puja festival is an important cultural and religious event for Delhi’s Purvanchali community, honoring the Sun God with offerings performed by devotees at rivers and natural water bodies. Yet due to visible toxic foam across parts of the Yamuna, the court deemed it too dangerous for devotees to conduct rituals in the river this year. Photos from recent days reveal the foam blanketing stretches of the Yamuna as devotees performed ritual baths despite the pollution, which experts attribute to untreated sewage and high levels of industrial waste in the water.

Santosh Kumar Tripathi, representing the Delhi government, explained the Yamuna’s current pollution levels, adding that the government is committed to safeguarding devotees’ health. Tripathi also announced the creation of 1,000 alternative sites throughout Delhi, specifically designated for safe Chhath Puja practices without risking immersion in the Yamuna. The Delhi government, he said, had made necessary arrangements at these sites to ensure a safe celebration for everyone. These areas will provide facilities for large gatherings, balancing public health considerations with religious observance.

Legal Background on Yamuna Pollution

The court’s decision references its earlier ruling in the Shabnam Burney case, where it addressed the Yamuna’s long-standing pollution issues, taking judicial notice of the river’s deteriorating condition. The Yamuna remains one of India’s most polluted rivers, despite government efforts aimed at cleanup and better wastewater management. Pollution is especially high near Delhi, where both untreated sewage and industrial runoff continue to flow into the river, contributing to the toxic foam that recently blanketed its surface.

Even after years of cleanup campaigns, pollution persists due to multiple factors, including insufficient waste treatment facilities, weak regulation, and the constant strain of industrial and population growth. Both state and municipal bodies, including the Delhi Jal Board, have repeatedly promised improved water quality in the Yamuna, but the pollution remains pervasive, particularly during the monsoon season when contaminants flow from upstream and settle in Delhi’s stretches of the river.

The Cultural Significance of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja holds immense religious and cultural significance for the Purvanchali community, which includes people originally from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, now residing in Delhi. They form a large part of the city's population, making up around 30-40% of the electorate. The festival, which celebrates the Sun God and Goddess Chhathi Maiya, involves devotees immersing themselves in natural water bodies at dawn and dusk. These rituals reflect devotion, gratitude, and prayers for well-being, typically requiring river or lake settings.

Given the Purvanchali community’s cultural and political influence, the high court’s decision to block Chhath Puja at the Yamuna could be politically significant, especially with assembly elections approaching early next year. The court’s choice to relocate the festival demonstrates a balance between respecting religious traditions and ensuring public health and safety. Authorities have worked with community leaders to provide adequate facilities at the 1,000 alternative locations, including sanitation, security, and other conveniences.

Environmental Health and Public Safety

The current foam on the Yamuna is a visible indicator of the environmental health crisis in urban India. Pollution in the river stems primarily from untreated wastewater and high ammonia levels caused by industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage. Health risks linked to exposure to such contaminated water are high, including skin rashes, respiratory issues, and gastrointestinal problems, making the court’s decision a necessary public health measure.

Environmental activists argue that unless stricter regulations are applied and better infrastructure for waste management is implemented, the pollution problem in the Yamuna will continue. Some advocate for sustainable practices like advanced wastewater treatment systems, robust regulatory oversight, and stringent penalties for industrial polluters. Although government pledges and cleanup initiatives have drawn attention, achieving a lasting impact on the Yamuna’s water quality remains challenging.

While Chhath Puja devotees understandably wish to perform their rituals at the river, the high court’s decision is grounded in an urgent need to protect public health. Pollution in the Yamuna has reached unprecedented levels, and the court’s intervention may also serve as a call to action for both the government and citizens to address the root causes of the river’s contamination.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)