Research

The Ganga is the largest river in India with an extraordinary religious importance for Hindus. Situated along its banks are some of the world's oldest inhabited cities like Varanasi and Patna. It provides water to about 40% of India's population across 11 states, serving an estimated population of 500 million people or more, which is larger than any other river in the world. Today, it is considered to be the sixth most polluted river in the world.

Why is Ganga such an important river?

It is the main reason for existence for many people and has been used for irrigation from ancient times. The banks of river ‘Ganga’ was the provincial capital for many kingdoms in India. Ganga is worshipped as goddess Ganga who incarnated as Ganges. Ganga is the embodiment of all sacred waters and rivers in Hindu mythology. Ganga has been a symbol of India’s age-long culture and civilization, ever-changing, ever-flowing, and yet the same sacred Ganga.

Many Hindus believe that a dip in river Ganga can get you rid of all the sins committed in life. It is a belief for the purification of soul. A place to find Moksha for many Hindus.

Why is the need to clean Ganga?

One-third of deaths can be attributed to water-borne diseases. Pollution has brought a major change in the health of people. It affects life of wild animals and marine animals. Ganga was ranked the fifth most polluted river in the world in 2007 and still remains one of the most polluted rivers in the world affecting over 400 million people who live close to the river.

What have we done so far to clean?

->Ganga Action Plan

The Ganga Action Plan or GAP was a program launched in January 1986 to reduce the pollution load on the river. But the efforts to decrease the pollution level in the river were unsuccessful even after spending Rs 9017 million. Therefore, this plan was withdrawn on 31 March 2000.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 schemes have been completed under this plan. A million litres of sewage is targeted to be intercepted, diverted and treated. Phase 2 of the program was approved in stages from 1993 onward and included the following tributaries of the Ganges: Yamuna, Gomti, Damodar and Mahananda. As of 2011, it is under implementation.

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.

->National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA)

NRGBA was established by the Central Government of India, on 20 February 2009 under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It declared the Ganges as the "National River" of India. The chair includes the Prime Minister of India and chief ministers of states through which the Ganges flows. In 2011, the World Bank "approved $1 billion in funding for the National Ganga River Basin Authority."

->Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court has been working on the closure and relocation of many of the industrial plants like Tulsi along the Ganges. In 2010 the government declared the stretch of river between Gaumukh and Uttarkashi an "eco-sensitive zone."

->Namami Ganga

In the budget tabled in on 10 July 2014, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely announced an integrated Ganga development project titled 'Namami Ganga' (meaning 'Obeisance to the Ganga river') and allocated ₹2,037 crore for this purpose.

As a part of the program, government of India ordered the shut down of 48 industrial units around Ganga.

Disastrous Impacts:-

->Marine life

The results of mercury analysis in various specimens collected along the basin indicated that some fish muscles tended to accumulate high levels of mercury. Of it, approximately 50–84% was organic mercury. A strong positive correlation between mercury levels in muscle with food habit and fish length was found.

The Ganges River dolphin is one of few species of fresh water dolphins in the world. Listed as an endangered species, their population is believed to be less than 2000. Hydroelectric and irrigation dams along the Ganges that prevents the dolphins from traveling up and down river is the main reason for their reducing population.

->Wildlife

Some of the dams being constructed along the Ganges basin will submerge substantial areas of nearby forest. For example, the Kotli-Bhel dam at Devprayag will submerge 1200 hectares of forest, wiping out the river otters and the mahaseer fish that are found there. Wildlife biologists in India have been warning that the wild animals will find it difficult to cope with the changed situation.

->Human beings

An analysis of the Ganges water in 2006 showed significant associations between water-borne/enteric disease pop and the use of the river for bathing, laundry, washing, eating, cleaning utensils, and brushing teeth. Water in the Ganges has been correlated to contracting dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, as well as severe diarrhea which continues to be one of the leading causes of death of children in India.