Renaming Najafgarh drain to Sahibi River is not sufficient because it looks like a Nala, it smells like a Nala and it feels like Nala to the people living on each side.

There is a significant difference between living by the side of a river or living by the side of a Nala. 

This River is carrying the untreated sewage and industrial waste load of most of Delhi. Water is not flowing in it these days, it is pure toxic material in which no aquatic life can survive and thrive. This purely chemical laden toxic flow is making the air toxic each day by emitting harmful gases for the people living on its sides throughout Delhi. This air pollution is four times more than the pollution levels rest of the Delhi suffers because of the toxic levels of methane, hydrogen sulphide etc. 
This open drain full of chemical and industrial wastes is continuously leaching poison into the underground water table and also poisoning the soil and air in the adjacent areas. 
People living in the adjacent areas are breathing this heavily toxic air and using poisonous water for their daily needs. 

To my surprise, Govt puts heavy fines and penalties for open water accumulated anywhere in houses during mosquito season or should I say Dengue Season, but fails to cover this wide open drain of sewage water which is the favourite place of breeding for pathogenic microorganisms and mosquitoes. 
The cases of Dengue , Malaria, typhoid are highest among the areas adjacent to this drain.

What fault people of these area have done!!!? 
These people not only suffering from maximum inflammatory diseases or vector borne diseases but also suffering loss of property and wealth because of the corroding nature of the fumes that the drain emits.

Converting sources of water, our rivers into open drains or Nala is damaging people’s health, wealth & peace of mind.

Delhi government and concerned departments are requested to please not put untreated sewage directly into this river Sahibi and restore it to its name. On paper multiple schemes and projects have been announced with big budgets but nothing moved on ground.

The entire sewage drainage system is faulty that dumps all the wastewater into the rivers. They should first go to STP’s and into recirculation. The direct dumping holds no STP or no Industry accountable for not putting untreated waste water into the rivers. Accountability comes only when they have to recirculate it and not dump it in water bodies.

This Najafgarh drain and hundreds of similar drains flowing throughout Delhi must be covered properly on areas densely populated alongside. Cover this river or Nala in patches of residential areas. If it is not possible then either displace all the people of these localities to a new area or make some strict reformatory changes in the Sewage action plan to revive this river to its name and give Delhi the National Capital a breathing space when it comes to pollution.

Reviving this Sahibi river  and hundreds of Nala joining it on it’s course of 75 kms can become a stepping stone in Rejuvenating river Yamuna- the lifeline of Delhi.

This drain is causing more than 60% pollution to the river Yamuna alone. If we wish to revive the Yamuna, the first step is to revive Sahibi and only then would it be possible to achieve to the higher goal of Clean Yamuna and Clean Water  and Clean Air in Delhi. Similar incident had happened in London around Thames River when the entire city got covered with deadly stinking Air because they used to do the same in 1800’s what we are doing even today in 2025…!!! Dumping their sewage directly into the rivers. Ultimately they had to evacuate the city and rebuild its Sewage infrastructure properly not letting the wastewater enter the river. 
Delhi also needs same kind of revolution and rebuilding of infrastructure for Sewage Management.

Entire country is suffering from this pollution of its rivers. Rivers are the source of life on this planet. Exploiting them is the biggest damage that we are doing to humanity itself.

These open Nala turned rivers are a threat to human life as the chemical laden flow releases Green house gases and are damaging the ozone layer leading to global warming. Already we have seen increase in temperature during this winter season. The extreme heat of summer is going to further increase the gaseous release and further damage human life in the city.

As far as pollution is concerned, we are already standing at a cliff and there is only downfall of mankind ahead if still we doesn’t rise and unite to this problem.

If we want to Save Delhi…if we want to Save Delhi People…we should want to Save Rivers…we should Save Sahibi to Save Yamuna.

Hope people and governments understand this message and act without any political differences in the favour of people of Delhi.Because people define governments , governments cannot defy people’s welfare.

We the People of Delhi are standing strong with the governments…if they are standing and working for the benefit of Mankind and taking action to Revive our Rivers and Save People from disastrous situations standing at the door of tomorrow.

Let’s unite today, let’s act today to safeguard our tomorrow.

Regards,

Dr. Nisha Siddharth 

Instrument Of Change