Pollution of the Ganges

People bathing and washing

The Ganges is a river in India which historically has been of high religious and cultural significance and in modern times has been known for being very polluted.

An estimated 2,000,000 people ritually bathe daily in the river, which is considered holy by the Hindus. In the Hindu religion it is said to flow from the hair of Shiva. The spiritual and religious significance is greater than any other river on the planet. While the Ganges may be considered holy, there are some problems associated with the ecology. It is filled with chemical wastes, sewage and even human and animal remains which carry major health risks by either direct bathing in the dirty water (e.g.: Bilharziasis infection), or by drinking (the Fecal-oral route)

Perennial rivers such as the Ganges have been held in high regard since time immemorial. This current of acknowledgement runs through the entire subcontinent, as seen from references to the Ganges in ancient South Indian literature.

Scientists and religious leaders have speculated on the causes of the river's apparent self-purification effect, in which water-borne bacteria such as dysentery and cholera are killed off thus preventing large-scale epidemics. Some studies have reported that the river retains more oxygen than is typical for comparable rivers; this could be a factor leading to fewer disease agents being present in the water.

Ganga Action Plan

The Ganga Action Plan or GAP was a program launched by Rajiv Gandhi in April 1985 in order to reduce the pollution load on the river. The program was launched with much fanfare, but it failed to decrease the pollution level in the river, after spending 901.71 crore (approx. 10¹⁰) rupees over a period of 15 years.

The activities of GAP phase I initiated in 1985 were declared closed on 31 March 2000. The steering Committee of the national river conservation Authority reviewed the progress of the GAP and necessary correction on the basis of lessons learned and experiences gained from the GAP phase; 2.00 schemes have been completed under this plan. A million liters of sewage is targeted to be intercepted, diverted and treated. The Phase-II of the program was approved in stages from 1993 onwards, and included the following tributaries of the Ganges: Yamuna, Gomti, Damodar and Mahananda. As of 2011, it is currently under implementation.

Excerpts from the Govt of India Planning Commission Report -

Ganga Action Plan - Objectives and Approach:

The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched by the Government of India in the year 1985 with the objective of abatement of pollution in the River Ganges due to discharge of sewage into the river from point as well as non-point sources. The Plan was renamed the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in the year 1995 and was broad-based to tackle pollution levels in other identified polluted stretches of major rivers, for improving their water quality to the bathing quality standards.

GAP I was launched in June 1985 and declared closed on 31st March, 2000, GAP II was approved in April, 1993 for pollution abatement of remaining works on river Ganges with 3 other rivers Yamuna, Damodar and Gomti. River Mahananda was included in the year 2005-06. NRCP was extended to other Major rivers of the country in 1995. In December, 1996, GAP - II was merged with NRCP. At present, NRCP covers 35 stretches of polluted rivers in 164 towns spread in 20 States. Action Plans for different rivers are being drawn up on the basis of surveys by Central pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB).

The approach of GAP was to create sewage treatment plants in the cities along the Ganges so that no untreated sewage is discharged into the river. This was expected to bring the quality of the river water to a desired level.

Protests for cleaning

Main article: Nigamanand

In early 2011, a Hindu seer named Swami Nigamananda Saraswati fasted unto death, protesting against illegal mining happening in the district of Haridwar (in Uttarakhand) resulting in pollution. Following his death in June 2011, his Ashram leader Swami Shivananda fasted for 11 days starting on November 25, 2011, taking his movement forward. Finally, the Uttarkhand government released an order to ban illegal mining all over Haridwar district. According to administration officials, quarrying in the Ganges would now be studied by a special committee which would assess its environmental impacts the river and its nearby areas.

See also

• Sankat Mochan Foundation
• Veer Bhadra Mishra
• Ernest Han bury Han-kin

External links

• Cleanganga.com - The Campaign for a Clean Ganga
• National River Conservation Directorate
• Eco Friends Ganges conservation
• [1] - Ganga Action Plan Phase I (June-1985 to 31-03-2000)
• [2] - PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT ON UTILIZATION OF FUNDS AND ASSETS CREATED THROUGH GANGA ACTION PLAN IN STATES UNDER GAP