Pollution, mining threaten Yamuna’s sanctity in Paonta Sahib

The Yamuna, venerated across northern India for its spiritual significance, is reeling under unregulated pollution and rampant illegal mining in Paonta Sahib of Sirmaur district. The river, considered a symbol of purity and faith, now flows burdened with sewage, industrial runoff and ecological degradation, alarming residents, religious leaders and environmentalists alike. In the heart of Paonta Sahib — a town known for its historic gurdwara and the revered Yamuna Ghat — untreated waste water is being discharged into the river at several points, notably near the Radha Krishna Temple and the adjacent Yamuna Ghat area. From the Yamuna bridge to the cremation ground downstream, underground pipelines have been seen releasing foul-smelling grey water into the riverbed. Though the exact source and nature of the discharge — whether from toilets, kitchens or domestic drains — remains unverified, experts warn of rising biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels, which indicate severe organic pollution. “The deterioration is evident. High BOD and COD values lead to depleted oxygen levels, directly harming aquatic life and accelerating eutrophication,” explains environmentalist Rakesh Sharma. “Algal blooms are beginning to take hold, further degrading water quality,” he adds. Despite visible contamination, ritual practices continue at the river ghat. Devotees take holy dips during daily ‘aarti’ and other religious events at the Yamuna Ghat. Alarmingly, some localities reportedly draw water from the same polluted stretch of the river for domestic use, including drinking. Health experts caution that this raises the risk of waterborne diseases such as hepatitis A, cholera, dysentery and typhoid, particularly as summer lowers water levels and concentrates pollutants. The environmental crisis is compounded by large-scale illegal mining in the riverbed. Eyewitness accounts suggest that a large number of heavy vehicles — many from neighbouring Uttarakhand — operate daily, extracting sand, gravel and boulders from the Yamuna’s basin. The result is that deep pits, altered river course and significantly reduced water levels are being witnessed. “Such unchecked extraction disrupts sediment transport, increases erosion and weakens the structural integrity of riverbanks,” says environmentalist Sachin Oberoi. “Even the Yamuna bridge and its adjacent residential areas can be vulnerable during monsoon surges.” The activities are in violation of the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Despite National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives, enforcement remains conspicuously weak. Local voices — including community leaders such as Rattan Singh Chauhan, Sant Ram Sharma and Robin Sharma — have repeatedly called for immediate action, but little has changed. In a statement to The Tribune, Sirmaur Pollution Control Board Regional Officer Atul Parmar said the Jal Shakti and Industries departments were the nodal agencies responsible for sewage treatment. Meanwhile, Jal Shakti Department Superintending Engineer Rajiv Mahajan asserted that all departmental connections were linked to the sewage treatment plant (STP). Both officials have denied any pollution entering the Yamuna, despite photographic evidence and public outcry indicating otherwise. Environmentalists such as Nathu Ram Chauhan and Gulab Singh Chauhan have demanded an independent hydrogeological impact study and urgent commissioning of a functional STP to stem the river’s decline.

Himachal Tribune