Ganga River: Preventing Pollution And Restoring Health

The Ganga River, or Ganges, is a holy river in the Hindu faith and is used for bathing, cooking, washing clothes, and conducting funerals. It is one of the most revered waterways in the world, providing water to nearly half a billion people. However, it is also one of the most polluted rivers, with 2.9 billion litres of wastewater from sewage, domestic, and industrial sources dumped into it every day. This has led to a rise in waterborne illnesses and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a serious threat to the health and well-being of the millions who depend on it. While efforts to clean up the river have been made, including the National Ganga River Basin Project (NGRBP) and the Namami Gange Programme, pollution continues to be a significant issue. To prevent water pollution in the Ganga River, comprehensive solutions are needed, including legislation, stakeholder involvement, and mass awareness campaigns to stop pollution and promote water conservation.

Stop sewage, industrial and agricultural waste from entering the river

Sewage, industrial, and agricultural waste are the main sources of pollution in the Ganga River. Here are some measures to prevent these types of waste from entering the river:

Sewage

• Implement innovative sanitation facilities: Construct and promote the use of biodigester toilets to reduce open defecation near the river.
• Develop sewage treatment technologies: Invest in the development and implementation of advanced sewage treatment technologies, such as Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) systems.
• Create sewer networks: Construct a comprehensive network of sewers and sewage pumping stations to intercept and divert sewage away from the river for treatment.
• Promote afforestation: Encourage tree planting and afforestation initiatives along the riverbanks, which can help treat sewage through natural processes.

Industrial Waste

• Adopt zero-discharge technologies: Mandate the use of zero-discharge technologies in industries, ensuring that all wastewater is treated and recycled, eliminating the release of untreated effluent into the river.
• Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP): Make it mandatory for all industries to utilize CETPs effectively to treat their wastewater before discharge.
• Relocate industrial plants: Identify and relocate highly polluting industrial plants away from the river to reduce direct waste discharge.
• Monitor water quality: Regularly monitor and publicly disseminate water quality data, encouraging public and social participation in policy-making to reduce industrial toxic discharge.

Agricultural Waste

• Sustainable farming practices: Encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, and the use of organic fertilizers to minimize chemical runoff into the river.
• Minimize water diversion: Discourage excessive water diversion for irrigation, as it exacerbates pollution and strain on the river.
• Recycle wastewater: Promote the recycling of industrial wastewater for agricultural use, reducing the withdrawal of water from ecosystems and providing essential nutrients for farming.

Implement legislation to prevent pollution and protect the river

The Ganga River, or Ganges, is a holy river in the Hindu faith and is considered sacred. It is used for bathing, cooking, washing clothes, and conducting funerals, among other things. With nearly half a billion people relying on the river for water, it is one of the most important natural water resources in the world.

However, the river is also one of the most polluted waterways globally, with 2.9 billion litres of wastewater from sewage, domestic, and industrial sources dumped into it every day. This has led to a severe public health crisis, with waterborne illnesses killing approximately 1.5 million children annually in India.

To address this issue, implementing comprehensive legislation is crucial. Here are some key measures that can be included in such legislation to prevent pollution and protect the river:

• Sewage and Wastewater Management: The government should prioritize the improvement of sewage treatment infrastructure and technologies. This includes constructing and upgrading sewage treatment plants (STPs) and effluent treatment plants (ETPs) to ensure that wastewater is properly treated before being released into the river.
• Industrial Waste Regulation: Strict regulations should be enforced to prevent industrial and toxic waste from being dumped into the river. This includes monitoring and penalizing industries that discharge untreated or inadequately treated wastewater. The closure and relocation of highly polluting industrial plants along the Ganges, as ordered by the Supreme Court of India, is a step in the right direction.
• Agricultural Practices: Promote sustainable farming practices by encouraging farmers to reduce their use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides, which contribute to water pollution. Provide incentives and support for farmers to adopt more natural alternatives, such as organic fertilizers made from cow dung and plant extracts, or the use of cover crops.
• River Diversion and Extraction: Implement measures to reduce over-extraction of water from the river for irrigation and hydropower. This includes enforcing regulations on water diversion projects and promoting water conservation and resource management practices, such as rainwater harvesting.
• Religious and Cultural Practices: While cultural and religious practices are important, they should be performed in an environmentally friendly manner. Encourage the use of electric crematoria as an alternative to traditional wood-burning pyres, reducing the amount of wood and other materials entering the river. Additionally, promote the use of biodegradable offerings and discourage the disposal of non-biodegradable trash, such as plastics, into the river.
• Ecosystem Restoration: Continue and expand initiatives such as the Namami Gange Programme, which focuses on restoring the river's ecosystem. This includes planting native trees along watercourses to prevent erosion and the ingress of pollutants, as well as preserving and expanding forest areas in the river basin.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Involvement: Ensure continual collaboration between various agencies, government bodies, and local communities. Address challenges and provide training and capacity-building programs to implement effective policies and plans for protecting the river.
• Public Awareness and Education: Conduct mass awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of keeping the river clean. Encourage active participation in pollution prevention and promote eco-consciousness through media campaigns.

Raise awareness and encourage the public to become part of the solution

The Ganga River is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Over 500 million citizens depend on the river for their way of life, and it is worshipped by one billion people as a divinity. The river is also used for bathing, cooking, washing clothes, and conducting funerals.

The pollution of the river is caused by sewage, industrial waste, water-intensive farming, and run-off from inorganic farms. The waste includes dangerous chemicals, plastic, and religious waste such as flower offerings, dead bodies, and idols.

To raise awareness and encourage the public to become part of the solution, the following steps can be taken:

• Implementing mass awareness campaigns and media-based water eco-consciousness campaigns: Educate the public about the impact of pollution on the river and how they can help to reduce it. This can include information about proper waste disposal, the importance of reducing water consumption, and the impact of industrial and agricultural activities on the river.
• Expanding education on river conservation at the primary schooling level: Start educating children early on about the importance of conserving the river and how they can help. This can include field trips to the river, classroom lessons, and community projects.
• Enhancing stakeholder collaboration: Bring together NGOs, local communities, and government bodies to work collaboratively on solving the problem. This can include holding meetings, conferences, and workshops to discuss the issue and come up with solutions.
• Promoting the reuse of treated wastewater: Encourage the public to use treated wastewater for non-potable purposes such as agriculture and irrigation. This will help to reduce the demand for fresh water and minimize pollution.
• Implementing innovative sanitation facilities: Introduce biodigester toilets that reduce open defecation near the river. These toilets process waste anaerobically, producing methane as a renewable energy source and sludge that can be used as manure.

Improve water conservation and resource management

Water conservation and resource management are crucial to preventing water pollution in the Ganga River. Here are some measures that can be implemented to achieve this:

• Legislative Action: Implement comprehensive legislation, such as the National Ganga Rights Act, that addresses pollution and protects the health of the river. This legislation should include strict guidelines and regulations to prevent any source of pollution from entering the river.
• Stakeholder Involvement: Encourage continuous engagement and collaboration between state and local bodies, addressing their challenges and providing training and capacity-building programs. Ensure that policies and plans are effectively implemented through consistent efforts.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Conduct mass media campaigns to raise awareness about water eco-consciousness. Educate the public about the importance of preventing pollution and encourage active participation in finding solutions. Promote sustainable practices and rituals that reduce pollution and conserve water resources.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Implement rainwater harvesting schemes at both centralized and decentralized levels within the Ganga River Basin. This will help capture and store rainwater, reducing the strain on the river and promoting water conservation.
• Sustainable Farming Practices: Promote sustainable farming practices among farmers in the basin. Encourage the use of natural alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, such as cow dung, plant extracts, or cover crops. This will reduce the amount of harmful chemicals entering the river and improve water quality.
• Reforestation: Plant and grow native trees along watercourses to prevent pollutants and sediment from entering the river. This will also help store millions of tons of carbon, mitigating climate change impacts. The Indian government has set a target of restoring 135,000 hectares of land in the basin to forest by 2030.
• Water Diversion Projects: Carefully manage water diversion projects, such as barrages and pump houses, to ensure that the river's flow is not disrupted during the lean season. Balancing the needs of irrigation and maintaining a healthy flow in the river is essential.
• Wastewater Treatment: Invest in wastewater treatment infrastructure and technologies, such as sewage treatment plants (STPs) and effluent treatment plants (ETPs). Ensure that industrial and municipal wastewater is properly treated before discharge into the river.

Restore the river's natural flow

The River Ganga is one of the most polluted rivers in the world, threatening the health and livelihoods of the over 500 million people who depend on it. The river's flow has been severely affected by the over-extraction of groundwater in the basin, which has impacted the river's self-purification process.

To restore the river's natural flow, several measures can be taken:

Identify and Protect River Corridors

It is essential to identify and protect 'river corridors' as areas free from any cement or concrete structures. This involves halting infrastructure development and river ecosystem destruction through populist measures such as riverfront developments or urban/smart city projects to protect and conserve the river's surface water sources.

Map the Entire Length of Tributaries

The Ganga has eight major tributaries: Yamuna, Son, Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, and Damodar. By mapping the entire looped length of each tributary and correcting land records, we can ensure accurate assessment of water resources and prevent encroachment and jurisdiction conflicts.

Restore Base Flows

Groundwater recharge techniques can help restore the base flows of the river. This includes improving groundwater management and reducing over-extraction for irrigation and hydropower.

Rejuvenate Natural Drains

Many natural drains that empty into the river have been converted into sewage-carrying drains. It is crucial to transform and rejuvenate these drains into healthy water bodies, ensuring they do not contribute to the pollution of the river.

Focus on Tributaries and Lower Order Streams

The Ganga Action Plan and Namami Gange have primarily focused on the main stem of the river, neglecting the tributaries that feed it. Restoring these smaller tributaries and lower-order streams is essential, as they constitute a significant portion of the Ganga basin.

Implement Comprehensive Legislation

Detailed legislation is necessary to prevent any source of pollution or threats to the river's health. This includes enforcing regulations to stop the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial waste into the river.

By implementing these measures, we can work towards restoring the River Ganga's natural flow, ensuring the health and well-being of the millions of people who rely on it.

Frequently asked questions