As foam builds up in Yamuna, questions raised over how work was allotted

A defoaming operation is set to begin in Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj, with equipment already in place.

NEW DELHI: A tanker, machinery, safety jackets and other equipment for the anti-foam operation for Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj is all set to go. A colourful tent is also in place. A few metres away, white foam, which indicates high concentration of pollutants, is building up in the river channel, waiting for a defoaming solution that can cut through it.The only glitch is the questions raised by the timeline of work allocation.Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that even before the tender bids for the work were opened. In a news conference Thursday, the party alleged that the process was structured to favour a “pre-determined contractor”. It also alleged that three days before the tender bids were opened, the contractor had already started to set up equipment at the site.As per documents, four tenders were floated for the defoaming exercise. These were supposed to be opened on Oct 21 and 22 (Wednesday and Thursday).During a visit, TOI found tents set up and divided into three sections. Equipment and machinery, along with a tanker of the Delhi Jal Board were present on site. The defoaming chemicals, those present on the site said, were yet to arrive. The contractor, ICON Instruments Company, refused to comment on the controversy and redirected qu-estions to Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials, stating that the work was being handled by them.Workers on site confirmed that the camp was set up five days ago.Responding to the allegations, DJB assistant chemist Sandeep Verma said, “We have been carrying out the defoaming process since 2022. DJB conducts a defoaming campaign every year, and we successfully carried it out in 2023 as well. This ghat was not previously included in the list of designated ghats but a defoaming campaign was conducted here last year as well. All the infrastructure you currently see here belongs to DJB. The firm that carried out the work last year had this equipment available and it was in our stock. We have issued a tender worth Rs 80 lakh, plus applicable taxes, for this work.”During the spot visit, TOI found foam visible on the water and plastic, polythene and other waste strewn across the riverbank. Discarded puja material, idols of deities, clothes and other garbage had accumulated along the banks.