Ganges River: A Polluted Sacred Waterway

The Ganges River, India's largest river and a vital water source for 400-500 million people, is severely polluted. The river's pollution stems from a combination of factors, including the disposal of untreated human and animal sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and religious practices such as ritual bathing and the deposition of cremated or partially burnt bodies. The river's high cultural and religious significance in Hinduism has inadvertently contributed to its pollution, with traditional funeral rites and sacred bathing practices adding to the contamination. Furthermore, the Ganges basin is one of the most densely populated regions globally, with rapid urbanization, agricultural demands, and industrial development exacerbating the pollution problem. Despite various initiatives and efforts to clean the river, such as the Namami Gange project, significant success has been limited due to the complex interplay of cultural, social, and environmental factors.

Population explosion and religious practices

The Ganges basin is one of the most densely populated regions on Earth. The river flows through 29 cities, each with a population of over 1 million people, and 97 cities with populations between 50,000 and 100,000 residents. Migration from rural areas to urban centres along the Ganges basin exacerbates pollution, as the influx of domestic and industrial waste often surpasses existing sewage treatment capacities. This rapid urbanisation driven by migration strains infrastructure and results in higher levels of pollutants, including plastics, heavy metals, and organic waste, degrading water quality and ecological health.

The river is also a focus of religious devotion for tens of millions of people worldwide, with over 70 million Hindus bathing in the Ganges during festive seasons to cleanse themselves of their past sins. During mass religious gatherings, people use water indiscriminately for activities like bathing and religious rites, posing immediate health risks to participants and downstream communities. Traditional religious practices, such as ritual bathing, leaving offerings, and depositing cremated or half-burnt bodies, further contribute to the pollution. In the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, an estimated 40,000 bodies are cremated annually and placed into the river, with many only partially burned due to the high cost of cremation wood.

The river's significance in agriculture, fisheries, transportation, culture, and religion makes it a vital source of water and life for over 40% of India's population. However, the high population density and religious practices along the river have led to severe pollution, threatening human health and the environment.

Industrial and agricultural waste

The Ganges River is considered one of the most polluted waterways in the world. A confluence of factors has led to this severe pollution, with industrial and agricultural waste being significant contributors.

Industrial Waste

The Ganges River, which stretches from the Himalayan foothills to the Bay of Bengal, flows past 29 cities, each with a population of over one million people. This dense population contributes to the river's pollution, as industrial waste is dumped untreated into the river by various industries. The accumulation of "toxic metals and metalloids" like arsenic and lead in fish species is a health and economic concern, as catches become unsafe for consumption or sale.

Industries such as tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, slaughterhouses, and hospitals release untreated waste into the river. This waste includes toxic substances and heavy metals, which have severe ecological and health impacts. The river's natural capacity to absorb pollutants is being diminished by climate change, exacerbating the issue.

Agricultural Waste

Agricultural practices also contribute significantly to the pollution of the Ganges River. Agricultural runoff, carrying fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, increases the nutrient load, causing eutrophication and oxygen depletion. These toxic pollutants are harmful to aquatic life and impact the river's ecosystem.

Agriculture's high water usage for irrigation purposes further stresses the river. During the dry season, dams divert up to 90% of the river's water for agriculture, hindering its natural self-cleansing abilities. The river's water is also used for irrigating fields, and the contaminated water can lead to toxic metal accumulation in vegetables, jeopardizing agricultural livelihoods and consumer health.

Addressing the Issues

To address the pollution caused by industrial and agricultural waste, sustainable approaches are being considered. These include encouraging sustainable farming practices, such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, and the use of organic fertilizers to minimize agricultural runoff. Additionally, recycling wastewater from industries can reduce water diversion from vulnerable ecosystems and provide essential nutrients for farming.

While efforts are being made, the scale of the pollution remains a critical environmental justice issue, threatening both human health and the environment.

Sewage and animal carcasses

The Ganges River is a vital water source for an estimated 400 to 500 million people. However, it is severely polluted due to a range of factors, including sewage and animal carcasses.

The river basin is one of the most densely populated regions globally, with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation contributing to the pollution of the river. A significant source of pollution is the disposal of untreated human sewage and animal waste from the numerous cities and towns along its banks. It is estimated that approximately 75% of the pollution in the Ganges comes from municipal sewage. The sewage contains high levels of disease-causing bacteria and toxic substances, posing a significant threat to human health and the environment.

Traditional religious practices, such as ritual bathing and the deposition of cremated or partially burnt bodies, also contribute to the pollution. During festive seasons, over 70 million Hindu people bathe in the river, leaving behind food, waste, and leaves. Additionally, an estimated 40,000 bodies are cremated annually in the holy city of Varanasi, with many of them only partially burnt due to the high cost of cremation wood. These remnants of funeral pyres end up in the river, further adding to the pollution.

Agricultural runoff, carrying fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides, also plays a role in the pollution of the river. While industrial waste accounts for a smaller volume, it is a major concern due to its toxic and non-biodegradable nature. The combination of these factors has severely polluted the Ganges River, and despite various initiatives and efforts, significant success in cleaning the river has been limited.

Dams and pumping stations

The River Ganges is a sacred river in Hinduism, and over 70 million Hindus bathe in the river during festive seasons. The river flows from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, through some of Asia's most densely populated regions. It is also used for irrigation and drinking water.

The construction of barrages and dams also disrupts the river's natural flow, and the water that is left is badly contaminated by pollution from homes and industries. The river's flow is further diminished by the needs of agriculture, with too much water being removed for farming.

Several solutions have been proposed to address the problem of dams on the Ganges. These include the demolition of upstream dams to allow more water to flow into the river during the dry season, and the construction of new upstream dams or coastal reservoirs to provide dilution water during the dry season. However, these solutions would be very expensive and would involve significant pumping costs to dilute the pollution in the river.

Corruption and disorganisation

The Ganges River is a vital water source for an estimated 400-500 million people. It is also a sacred site for Hindus, who believe that being cremated on its banks and floating down the river will cleanse the sins of the deceased. Despite its religious significance, the river is heavily polluted.

This severe pollution is primarily due to the disposal of untreated human sewage and industrial waste. The Ganges basin is one of the most densely populated regions globally, and the fast growth of cities, coupled with poor sanitation practices, has led to an immense amount of sewage being dumped into the river.

Additionally, industrial effluents, although accounting for a smaller volume, contribute toxic and non-biodegradable waste to the river. A coal-based power plant on the banks of the Pandu River, a tributary of the Ganges, produces 210,000 tons of fly ash, which contains toxic heavy metals such as lead and copper. This ash is released into the Pandu River, increasing the concentration of copper in the water a thousandfold before it even reaches the Ganges.

Agricultural runoff is another significant source of pollution, as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides increase nutrient load, cause eutrophication and oxygen depletion, and introduce toxic pollutants harmful to aquatic life.

While there have been several initiatives to clean up the river, including the Ganga Action Plan and the Namami Gange Programme, they have not achieved significant success. This failure can be attributed to corruption and disorganisation. Funding for clean-up efforts often ends up in the pockets of corrupt officials, and even when well-intentioned individuals try to improve the situation, constant pollution from various sources makes it an uphill battle.

The population explosion in India has also played a role in the river's degradation. In the last hundred years, the country's population has quintupled, putting immense pressure on the Ganges as more water is diverted for agriculture and other uses. This prevents the river from cleaning itself naturally and exacerbates the impact of pollution.

Frequently asked questions