Froth in Swarnarekha River in Mango Sparks Environmental Concerns

Foam and froth in Jamshedpur’s Swarnarekha river raises concerns of water contamination and fish deaths.

JAMSHEDPUR – Many residents of Jamshedpur were alarmed to see foamy, frothy water flowing in the Swarnarekha river in Mango, reminiscent of the toxic froth witnessed in Delhi’s Yamuna river last year.

The strange phenomenon has drawn attention and local concern.

Dead fish were observed surfacing in the river, suggesting water contamination and oxygen deficiency in water.

This follows a similar incident 10 days ago when thousands of fish were found dead in the pond of Jayanti Sarovar at Sakchi Jubilee Park.

Now, it appears that water contamination may be claiming the lives of fish in the Subarnarekha river.

In response to this distressing issue, Jamshedpur East MLA, Saryu Roy, mentioned that he has been requesting the government to release water from Chandil Dam for the past two months.

The contaminated water even led to the presence of insects in the Moharda water supply scheme in Birsanagar, he said.

He said that the release of water from Chandil Dam remains inconsistent.

Roy said that he consulted with experts who confirmed that fish deaths primarily occur due to oxygen deficiency in the water, which could be caused by bacterial deficiency or chemical contamination.

Roy indicated that the formation of foam on the water’s surface suggests chemical contamination.

The exact cause can only be determined after testing the water, he added.

Roy declared he would either request the pollution board to test the water or take it upon himself to bring water samples to a Ranchi laboratory for analysis.

Additionally, he plans to discuss the issue with Tata Steel and the local administration too, he said.

It is important to note that the froth and foam observed in Delhi’s Yamuna last year were due to phosphates and surfactants from untreated sewage.

Environmental experts identified these components, along with soap-detergent particles, industrial effluents, organic matter from decomposing vegetation, and filamentous bacteria, as contributors to the foam formation.

The alarming situation of the Yamuna river had previously sparked a political debate between AAP and BJP leaders at the national level.