Kiera Jefferson
The Ganges River, or Ganga, is one of the most densely populated river basins in the world, with over 650 million people living in its basin. The river holds a significant place in Indian culture and spirituality, and is revered as a sustainer of life and a witness to the unfolding of civilisation. However, despite its profound cultural and historical importance, the Ganges has become one of the most polluted rivers in the world due to decades of human activities. The main sources of pollution include untreated sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, remnants of partially burned or unburned bodies from funeral pyres, and plastic waste. Climate change is also contributing to the problem by reducing water flows and worsening the impact of pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population growth | The river runs through 29 cities with populations of over 1 million people, and 97 cities with populations of 50,000-100,000 people. |
| Sewage | Approximately 37 billion litres of untreated sewage flows into the river daily. |
| Cremation | 40,000 bodies are cremated each year and deposited into the Ganges in Varanasi alone, with many of these bodies being incompletely burned due to the high cost of cremation wood. |
| Industrial waste | Several manufacturers, such as rubber, plastic, and leather, have established themselves along the river's bank and discharge their waste into the water. |
| Agricultural activities | Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are introduced into the river through agricultural activities, contributing to chemical pollution. |
| Climate change | Climate change is reducing water flows, diminishing the river's ability to absorb pollutants. |
| Religious gatherings | Mass religious gatherings result in pollution from activities like bathing and religious rites, posing health risks to participants and downstream communities. |
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What You'll Learn
Population growth and urbanisation
The Ganga basin has experienced significant economic growth alongside its population boom, with numerous industries, such as tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, and hospitals, establishing themselves along the river's banks. These industries often dump untreated waste, including toxic heavy metals and non-biodegradable materials, directly into the river, contributing to its severe pollution. The river's ability to clean itself and maintain its ecological flow has been compromised by the increasing demands for water extraction for agriculture, food, and irrigation, as well as the general needs of the growing population.
The proliferation of pharmaceutical industries, waste disposal in urban areas, and the rise in population have further exacerbated the pollution problem. The high population density along the river has led to a drastic increase in waste generation, which is often disposed of in the river and its tributaries. Hotspots of contamination coincide with major urban centres, including Delhi, Kolkata, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Patna, where industrial and domestic effluents containing pesticides, insecticides, and other organic pollutants are released into the water.
The combination of population growth and urbanisation has resulted in a continuous strain on the Ganga River's ability to maintain its ecological balance and self-purification capacity. The increasing demands for water and the influx of waste have created a situation where the river is unable to dilute and assimilate the pollutants effectively, leading to a significant degradation of water quality and ecological health. This has resulted in adverse effects on the environment, fishing, farming, and the health and economic opportunities of vulnerable communities dependent on the river.
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Agricultural activities
The total usage of pesticides in the Ganga basin between 2012 and 2017 was 72,741 MT, which is 27% of the country's total consumption. The high usage of pesticides has resulted in the contamination of the river and has impacted both human health and the environment. The accumulation of toxic heavy metals in food sources like fish and vegetables poses severe long-term health threats to local populations who depend on these foods.
In addition to pesticides, fertilizers used in agricultural areas contribute to the pollution of the river. The runoff from these fertilizers contains high levels of nutrients that can cause excessive algae growth and lead to the depletion of oxygen in the water, creating "dead zones" where no aquatic life can survive.
The pollution from agricultural activities not only affects the river but also has consequences for vulnerable communities dependent on the river for their livelihoods and daily needs. These communities often lack access to clean water and bear the brunt of the health and economic impacts of pollution, highlighting the need for equitable solutions that prioritize their right to a healthy environment.
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Industrial waste
The Ganges River, India's largest river and a vital water source for an estimated 500 million people, is facing severe pollution from a variety of sources, including industrial waste. While accounting for a smaller volume compared to other sources, industrial waste is a major concern due to its toxic and non-biodegradable nature. The river's water is being contaminated by dangerous chemicals and heavy metals, which pose significant risks to human health and the environment.
Industrial activities, such as tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, and coal-fired power plants, are major contributors to the pollution of the Ganges. These industries discharge untreated wastewater containing hazardous substances directly into the river. For example, the city of Kanpur, located on the banks of the Ganges, produces nine million liters of industrial waste daily, much of which is illegally dumped into the river without proper treatment. The wastewater from tanneries contains toxic chemicals such as chromium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and nickel, which are harmful to both human health and aquatic life.
The accumulation of heavy metals and toxic compounds in the river has led to bioaccumulation and biomagnification, resulting in undesirable health effects. Exposure to these pollutants has been linked to developmental issues, kidney damage, various cancers, and even death in instances of very high exposure. The pollution has also impacted aquatic ecosystems, with many fish species facing local extinction due to the toxic water.
To address the issue of industrial waste pollution in the Ganges, the Indian government has implemented various measures. The Water (Prevention and Control) Act mandates significant fines and jail time for those who repeatedly pollute aquifers. Additionally, the government has launched projects like Namami Gange, which aims to utilize cutting-edge technology to clean the river and make the water suitable for bathing, if not drinking. Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) are also being promoted to ensure proper treatment of industrial wastewater.
Despite these efforts, the Ganges continues to face the challenge of industrial pollution. The rapid industrial growth in cities along the river, such as Kanpur, has outpaced the capacity of local infrastructure to manage the resulting waste. As a result, the river has become a dumping ground for untreated industrial effluents, endangering the health and well-being of the millions of people who depend on it.
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Religious rituals
The Ganges, or Ganga, is a sacred river in Hinduism. It is considered the holiest river in the world and is worshipped as Mother Ganges or Ma Ganga. The river has been intertwined with the development of human settlement and civilisation along its banks.
The river's sacred identity is closely tied to the spiritual identity of India, with Hindus travelling from all over the world to access its healing waters. They perform ritual baths and dips, and collect water to bring back to their homes for rituals and healing.
The Kumbh Mela is a religious festival held every 12 years in the city of Allahabad on the banks of the Ganges. It is the largest human gathering in the world, with over 30 million pilgrims attending in 2001. The central ritual of the festival is bathing in the Ganges to achieve moksha, or salvation.
However, these religious rituals have contributed to the pollution of the river. In addition to industrial waste and untreated sewage, the deposition of cremated or half-burnt bodies, ashes, and other offerings into the river during religious rituals has added to the pollution load.
The intense pollution during mass religious gatherings, where people indiscriminately use water for activities like bathing and religious rites, poses immediate health risks to participants and impacts downstream communities. It also affects the natural capacity of the river to dilute and absorb pollutants.
There have been calls for a shift in perception and rituals to address this issue. For example, electric crematoria have been built as an alternative to traditional wood-burning pyres.
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Climate change
The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) and the Namami Gange Programme are initiatives aimed at improving water quality and restoring the natural world labouring under climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. The Indian government has invested over $4 billion in cleaning up the Ganga, and local communities are making efforts to rescue and release dolphins trapped in fishing nets.
The industrialised stretch of the Ganga river immediately upstream and downstream of Kanpur city is considered the most polluted due to excessive pollutant discharge from industries. Climate change further exacerbates the pollution risk in this area, as reduced water flows can lead to deteriorated water quality even when industries adhere to prescribed safe limits for effluent disposal.
Agricultural practices also contribute to the pollution of the Ganges. An increase in agricultural land leads to larger nutrient concentrations, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilisers, which increase the nutrient load in the river. This causes high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), leading to eutrophication and severe depletion of oxygen essential for aquatic life. Climate change exacerbates the impact of nutrient pollution by reducing water flows and the river's capacity to dilute or process contaminants.
To address these issues, the government is promoting sustainable farming practices, encouraging farmers to use natural alternatives to chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and planting native trees along watercourses to prevent pollutants and sediment from entering the river. These efforts are vital to improving water quality and mitigating the impacts of climate change on the Ganges River.
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Frequently asked questions
The main causes of Ganga pollution are untreated sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, remnants of partially burned or unburned bodies from funeral pyres, and animal carcasses.
The Ganga river basin is the most populated river basin in the world, with around 650 million people living there. This means that around 37 billion litres of untreated sewage flow into the river every day.
The fast growth of cities, industries, and agriculture has led to increased pollution from homes and industries. The river is treated as a receptacle for waste, overwhelming its natural processes.
Agricultural activities introduce various chemical substances such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides into the river, contributing to its pollution load.
Ganga pollution has led to severe human health risks from waterborne diseases, the accumulation of toxic heavy metals in food sources, ecological degradation, and threats to endangered species like the Ganges river dolphin.
