On Monday, the high court prohibited the discharge of untreated industrial effluents into the Yamuna in the states of Delhi and Haryana.
Industries here are primarily responsible for the toxic condition of the river.
The court has also banned release of effluents into the drains that flow into the river. In a country where all big rivers are holy, the Yamuna, the lifeline of the National Capital Region of Delhi, has become so clogged with poisonous waste that it stands in immediate danger of losing its holy status. The court asked the Board to file a fresh report on the quality of water by March 1. The CPCB report said that the Yamuna's water was not fit for drinking and contained pollutants in excess of the standards fixed for the lowest quality drinking water. The court said that public health should be given top priority even at the cost of jobs.