Yamuna 'poisoning' row: Kejriwal claims victory, says ammonia levels dipped
What's the story
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal has announced a drastic reduction in the ammonia levels of the Yamuna River after his party raised the issue with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
He credited the success to Delhi's citizens and his party's effort in creating awareness about the problem.
According to him, the ammonia level in the river has now dropped from 7 parts per million (ppm) to 2ppm.
Urgent meeting
Election Commission holds meeting with Kejriwal
This development came after the ECI convened a special meeting with Kejriwal on Friday morning, changing its earlier schedule in light of the campaign period in Delhi.
"Atishi and Bhagwant Mann wrote a letter to the EC raising the issue...EC did not take any action...Even though we have not made an appointment, we are going to the EC," he said before the meeting.
At the meeting, the commission heard Kejriwal's statements on the Yamuna contamination issue.
Twitter Post
Read Kejriwal's letter to ECI here
दिल्लीवासियों को बहुत-बहुत बधाई। हम सबका संघर्ष रंग लाया। दिल्ली में जो ज़हरीला पानी भेजा जा रहा था, वो अब बंद हो गया। दिल्ली में आने वाले पानी में अमोनिया की मात्रा 7 ppm से घटकर 2 ppm हो गई है। अगर हम आवाज़ नहीं उठाते और संघर्ष नहीं करते, तो आज दिल्ली की आधी आबादी को पानी नहीं… pic.twitter.com/9tNzvvr0zb
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 31, 2025
Allegations surfaced
Kejriwal accuses Haryana CM of allowing high ammonia levels
Kejriwal had also written a letter to the ECI, leveling serious allegations against Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
He accused Saini of allowing dangerously high ammonia levels in water supplied to Delhi from Haryana.
These ammonia levels started rising sharply from January 15, reaching a peak of 7ppm shortly after, according to Kejriwal.
He reiterated the charges while speaking to reporters, saying an FIR should be registered against him.
Unresolved issue
Kejriwal alleges conspiracy to influence Delhi elections
In the letter, he also alleged that Atishi's efforts to sort the matter with Saini, no concrete steps were taken.
He claimed that Saini stopped picking calls from Atishi.
"There was a deliberate conspiracy on the part of Haryana CM...to influence Delhi elections by sending highly polluted waters to Delhi."
"He knew...that this would create artificial water scarcity in Delhi, whose blame would lie on the AAP government in Delhi," he said in the letter before meeting with the ECI.