The much touted river revival initiative pushed foward by the chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat appears to have had little impact considering recent findings regarding the level of toxic chemicals in the water of Rispana and Bindal rivers in Dehradun. The findings also elicit focus on governmental measures like the laying of sewer lines on the Rispana riverbed which has been eliciting criticism from environmentalists and concerned citizens. The Society of Pollution and Environment Conservation Scientists (SPECS), volunteers of Joy and residents of Dudhli village had collected the water samples from the tributaries of Ganga - Bindal-Rispana and the Suswa. The samples had been collected between May 8 and 19 from different sites of the rivers. According to SPECS secretary Brij Mohan Sharma, the analysis of Rispana, Bindal and Suswa shows that it is full of toxins. The highly contaminated water of Suswa contains toxins like chromium, zinc, iron, lead, manganese, oil and grease which are very harmful for the soil, aquifers, human life, aquatic life, agriculture and domestic animals. Additionally, it also poses a threat to the environment and wildlife in the Rajaji national park as the river passes through it. The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) standard of river water is 500 mg/litre but it was found to be 756-1667 mg/litre in the Bindal, 732-1250 mg/litre in Rispana and 722-1243 mg/litre in the Suswa river. The oil and grease standard of a river is 0 mg/litre but in the Bindal it is 36 mg/litre while it is 13-27 mg/litre in the Rispana and 15-29 mg/litre in the Suswa. The dissolved oxygen standard of the river water is 3-4 mg/litre (minimum) but in Bindal it is 0.7-1.7 mg/litre and 0.4-1 mg/litre in Suswa. The chlorides standard of the river water is 250 mg/litre but in Bindal it is 716 mg/litre while it is 467-814 mg/litre in Rispana and 667-814 mg/litre in Suswa. The phosphate standard of the river water is 0 mg/litre but it is 2.7 mg/litre in Bindal, 2.2-3.8 mg/litre in Rispana and 3.2-4.1 mg/litre in Suswa. The flourides standard of the river water is 1.5 mg/litre but it is 2.4 mg/litre in the Bindal, 1.6-2.9 mg/litre in Rispana and 1.4-2.9 mg/litre in Suswa. The coliform standard of the river water is 0-50 MPN/100 ML but in it is 3900 MPN/100 ml in Bindal, 1480-4800 mpn/100 ml in the Rispana and 1960-4200 mpn/100 ml in the Suswa river. Similarly, the fecal coliform standard of the river water is 0 MPN/100 ml but in Bindal it is 500 whereas it is 616-1860 mpn/100 ml in the Rispana and 416-1960 mpn/100 ml in the Suswa river. SPECS analysed all the 24 samples and found that it contained heavy metal toxicity, oil and grease, fecal and non fecal coliform which can result in damaged or reduced mental and central nervous function, poor reproductive health, lower energy levels, and damage to blood composition, lungs, kidneys, liver, and other vital organs. Long-term exposure may result in slowly progressing physical, muscular, and neurological degenerative processes that mimic Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis. Allergies are not uncommon and repeated long-term contact with some metals or their compounds may even cause cancer, added Sharma. The residents of Dhudhli village are concerned because of the prevalence of toxic chemicals in the river water which is detrimentally affecting the people, domestic animals and agriculture. It is also affecting the environmental wealth of Rajaji, added the SPECS secretary.