‘Okhla Bird Sanctuary water polluted’

NOIDA: Not all is well with the water at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary. Tests on samples collected from the wetland have revealed high oil and grease content, low oxygen and several faecal pollutants, which experts believe may have long-term effects on the avifauna of the region.

The Gautam Budh Nagar forest department, in January, had sent samples to be tested, and results of the process were recently obtained.

The water quality assessment was held after four years — the last one was in January 2016. Forest officials said there are no sources of pollution within the bird sanctuary itself, but that a number of untreated drains from Delhi release effluents into the Yamuna river, which may in turn be polluting the water of the wetland, located on the banks of the river.

“There are about 19 drains in Delhi which release effluents directly into the Yamuna and the pollutants reach here. The wetland’s water is polluted and often smells, though we have been made aware that authorities in Delhi are working on tapping such drains. Recently there was a very slight improvement in the odour and colour of the waters of wetlands due to extra water being released into the Yamuna a few days ago,” said Arvind Mishra, regional forest officer, Okhla Bird Sanctuary (OBS).

Spread over 400 hectares, of which 80% is water bodies, the Okhla Bird Sanctuary is home to a number of water and terrestrial birds, all of which are believed to be under long- or short-term impact of the polluted water.

Experts, however, added that there need to be more extensive studies to accurately gauge the impact of the water pollution.