160
R. S. Sharma et al.
(iii) Observed Changes Occurred in the Water Quality of River Yamuna.
The Yamuna is another major river of India and unfortunately is among distinctively
dirtiest rivers in India. It is the second largest and longest tributary of Ganga hence
the polluted water of Yamuna ultimately affects the water parameters of Ganga River.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had identified more than 351 polluted
river sites across India in 2018 and many of these sites were situated alongside large
urban cities and industrial areas [48]. Yamuna is considered as the most polluted
river in the world [43]. Yamuna’s water quality mainly degrades when it enters into
Delhi National Capital Territory (NCT) about 23 km upstream of Wazirabad Barrage
(Palla) and travels around 6.9 km downstream of Okhla Barrage, this area of about
48 km in Delhi NCT consist of only 2% of total Yamuna’s path but receives almost
79% of its total pollutant load [48]. According to Kumar et al. [29] the water quality
of Yamuna from the Himalayan segment up to Palla (before entering in Delhi) is
moderate, whereas the Delhi segment is the worst affected area of entire river length.
The spread of COVID-19 has provided a ray of hope to improve the water quality
of the Yamuna River, as the industries are operating partially within Delhi and also on
other regions located on the banks of Yamuna. Patel et al. [48] analyzed the aftermath
of lockdown on Yamuna’s water at different sites in Delhi and reported that, there is
an improvement in water quality of 37%, which is a huge increment. The biological
oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand were reduced by 42.83% and 39.25%,
respectively, with respect to the pre-lockdown phase and fecal coliforms decreased
more than 40%. During lockdown the Yamuna possesses a declined effluent load,
low levels of turbidity, suspended particulate matter, and algal signatures. Arif et al.
[2] said that a general improvement in the water quality of river Yamuna has been
observed during lockdown, the concentrations of pH, BOD, DO, electrical conductivity (EC), and COD has showed a cut down of 1–10%, 45–90%, 51%, 33–66%,
and 33–82%, respectively, in comparison to pre-lockdown state. The water quality of
Yamuna has improved much better during lockdown even when several efforts and
actions were taken before for cleaning the river, where also an enormous amount of
money was invested but no satisfactory results were obtained until now [2]. It seems
that COVID-19 lockdown has provided us with a perfect opportunity to revive all
those water bodies which are on the verge of dying; not only in India but also in the
entire world. Of course there are several disturbing issues related to this pandemic
situation which cannot be appreciated at all but as a society we need to accept that
the lockdown has taught us an important lesson that we have to care for our nature
for a better and glorious tomorrow.
6.3.3 Revamped Noise and Soil Pollution
With increasing human activities, the magnitude of anthropogenic noise as well as the
noise pollution also increases. Environmental noise is known as the unwanted sound
that is generated by anthropogenic activities, i.e. industries, traffic, music at high
volumes, commercial activities, etc. [72]. Man-made noise reduces the capability
R. S. Sharma et al.
(iii) Observed Changes Occurred in the Water Quality of River Yamuna.
The Yamuna is another major river of India and unfortunately is among distinctively
dirtiest rivers in India. It is the second largest and longest tributary of Ganga hence
the polluted water of Yamuna ultimately affects the water parameters of Ganga River.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had identified more than 351 polluted
river sites across India in 2018 and many of these sites were situated alongside large
urban cities and industrial areas [48]. Yamuna is considered as the most polluted
river in the world [43]. Yamuna’s water quality mainly degrades when it enters into
Delhi National Capital Territory (NCT) about 23 km upstream of Wazirabad Barrage
(Palla) and travels around 6.9 km downstream of Okhla Barrage, this area of about
48 km in Delhi NCT consist of only 2% of total Yamuna’s path but receives almost
79% of its total pollutant load [48]. According to Kumar et al. [29] the water quality
of Yamuna from the Himalayan segment up to Palla (before entering in Delhi) is
moderate, whereas the Delhi segment is the worst affected area of entire river length.
The spread of COVID-19 has provided a ray of hope to improve the water quality
of the Yamuna River, as the industries are operating partially within Delhi and also on
other regions located on the banks of Yamuna. Patel et al. [48] analyzed the aftermath
of lockdown on Yamuna’s water at different sites in Delhi and reported that, there is
an improvement in water quality of 37%, which is a huge increment. The biological
oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand were reduced by 42.83% and 39.25%,
respectively, with respect to the pre-lockdown phase and fecal coliforms decreased
more than 40%. During lockdown the Yamuna possesses a declined effluent load,
low levels of turbidity, suspended particulate matter, and algal signatures. Arif et al.
[2] said that a general improvement in the water quality of river Yamuna has been
observed during lockdown, the concentrations of pH, BOD, DO, electrical conductivity (EC), and COD has showed a cut down of 1–10%, 45–90%, 51%, 33–66%,
and 33–82%, respectively, in comparison to pre-lockdown state. The water quality of
Yamuna has improved much better during lockdown even when several efforts and
actions were taken before for cleaning the river, where also an enormous amount of
money was invested but no satisfactory results were obtained until now [2]. It seems
that COVID-19 lockdown has provided us with a perfect opportunity to revive all
those water bodies which are on the verge of dying; not only in India but also in the
entire world. Of course there are several disturbing issues related to this pandemic
situation which cannot be appreciated at all but as a society we need to accept that
the lockdown has taught us an important lesson that we have to care for our nature
for a better and glorious tomorrow.
6.3.3 Revamped Noise and Soil Pollution
With increasing human activities, the magnitude of anthropogenic noise as well as the
noise pollution also increases. Environmental noise is known as the unwanted sound
that is generated by anthropogenic activities, i.e. industries, traffic, music at high
volumes, commercial activities, etc. [72]. Man-made noise reduces the capability