Helena Joyce
The Ganges River is revered as sacred by Hindus and is worshipped as a deity by villagers. However, it is facing severe pollution, which poses a threat to the health of the river, the surrounding ecosystems, and the communities that depend on it. The sources of pollution in the Ganges are diverse and include industrial effluents, plastic and industrial waste, agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and remnants of religious practices such as ritual bathing and cremation. Climate change is also contributing to reduced water flow, exacerbating the impact of pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | The Ganges basin is one of the most densely populated regions on earth |
| Sewage | Untreated sewage is dumped into the river |
| Industrial waste | Industrial effluents account for about 12% of the total volume of waste reaching the Ganges |
| Plastic waste | Plastic and industrial waste, including wastewater from factories on the banks of the Ganges, are also significant sources of pollution |
| Religious practices | Traditional religious practices, such as ritual bathing, leaving offerings, and the deposition of cremated or half-burnt bodies, further add to the pollution load |
| Dams | Dams and pumping stations constructed for irrigation and drinking water significantly reduce the river’s flow, especially in dry seasons |
| Climate change | Climate change is also noted as contributing to reduced water flows and worsening the impact of pollution |
| Health risks | There are severe human health risks from waterborne diseases and the accumulation of toxic heavy metals in food sources like fish and vegetables |
| Ecological degradation | Ecological degradation, including a rapid decline and local extinction of native fish species and threats to endangered species like the Ganges river dolphin and softshell turtle |
| Economic impact | The severe pollution of the Ganges directly undermines the livelihoods of millions who depend intimately on the river’s resources |
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What You'll Learn
Industrial effluents and waste
The Ganges River is regarded as sacred by Hindus, but it is also one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Industrial effluents and waste are significant contributors to this pollution, accounting for about 12% of the total volume of waste in the river. This waste comes from numerous tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals located in the large number of industrial cities that have sprung up along the Ganges' banks, such as Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, and Patna. These cities actively contribute to the river's pollution by dumping untreated waste into it. For example, on the banks of the Pandu River, a Ganges tributary near Kanpur, a coal-fired power plant burns 600,000 tonnes of coal annually and releases 210,000 tonnes of fly ash into ponds. This ash mixes with household wastewater and is eventually discharged as a slurry into the Pandu River, a tributary of the Ganges. The fly ash contains toxic heavy metals like lead and copper, which are then released into the Ganges, posing a severe threat to the river's health and the ecosystems it supports.
The discharge of industrial waste into the Ganges has severe ecological consequences. The toxic heavy metals released by industries accumulate in fish and vegetables, becoming highly harmful even at low doses and posing long-term health risks, particularly carcinogenic risks, to local populations who depend on these food sources. The intense pollution during mass religious gatherings, where people bathe and perform religious rites in the river, poses immediate health risks to participants and downstream communities. The failure of large-scale cleanup efforts, such as the Ganga Action Plan, highlights the systemic challenges that continue to burden vulnerable populations living alongside and depending on the river.
Various manufacturers, including rubber, plastic, and leather producers, have established operations along the river's bank and discharge their waste directly into the water. This has resulted in a significant slowdown in fish growth and the overall health of the aquatic ecosystem. The Ganges receives approximately 1 billion gallons of unprocessed raw sewage, with municipal sewage contributing approximately 75% of the pollution. The high levels of disease-causing bacteria and toxic substances in the river further exacerbate the ecological and health risks associated with the water.
The pollution in the Ganges is a pressing issue that threatens the livelihoods and health of millions who depend on the river's resources. Fishing, a critical source of sustenance and income, is severely impacted by the ecological degradation and the accumulation of toxic metals in fish species, rendering catches unsafe for consumption or sale. The river's water quality is also contributing to water scarcity, affecting farmers who rely on it for irrigation. The combination of industrial waste, untreated sewage, and agricultural runoff has created a toxic cocktail that undermines the very source of life and sustenance that the river is revered for.
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Religious practices and rituals
The Ganges River is considered sacred in Hinduism. The river is regarded as the Mother Goddess Ganga, a focus of religious devotion for tens of millions of people across the world. The river is also a vital source of water for over 40% of India's population. However, the very people who revere the river are contributing to its pollution through various religious practices and rituals.
One of the main religious practices that contribute to the pollution of the Ganges is ritual bathing. During festive seasons, over 70 million Hindu people bathe in the Ganges to cleanse themselves of their past sins. This ritual bathing can lead to waterborne diseases, as untreated sewage and industrial waste are dumped into the river. The high levels of disease-causing bacteria and toxic substances in the water pose significant health risks to those who bathe in it.
Another religious practice that contributes to pollution is the deposition of cremated or partially burned bodies in the river. Traditional Hindu beliefs hold that being cremated on the banks of the Ganges and allowing the ashes to flow downstream will cleanse the sins of the deceased and carry them directly to salvation. This practice can lead to the accumulation of toxic substances in the river, as the ashes may contain remnants of unburned or partially burned bodies.
The leaving of offerings during religious rituals also contributes to the pollution of the Ganges. Devotees often leave food, flowers, and other items as offerings to the river, which can lead to the accumulation of rubbish and food waste in the water. These offerings are made daily, with tens of thousands of offerings made to the Ganges each day.
Mass religious gatherings, such as the Kumbh Mela festival held every 12 years, can also lead to intense pollution of the river. During these gatherings, millions of people bathe in the river and perform religious rites, which can result in the indiscriminate use of water and the disposal of ritual items into the river. This not only poses immediate health risks to participants but also impacts downstream communities and economies, particularly those with fewer resources to cope with environmental degradation.
While some Hindus work tirelessly to change their habits and mitigate their impact on the environment, others ignore the crisis or do not believe in Hindu environmentalism. The pollution of the Ganges River represents a justice crisis, disproportionately affecting the millions who rely on its waters for survival, livelihood, and spiritual practice.
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Pesticides and herbicides
Agricultural activities are a significant contributor to the pollution load of the Ganges River. The widespread application of pesticides and herbicides in farming means that most of these chemicals eventually run off into the river. The use of river water for irrigation can also wash excess agrochemicals from the land into the watercourse. The influx of these agricultural pollutants has detrimental effects on the Ganges' water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
Studies have shown that 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. Insecticides dominate the formulations, followed by herbicides and fungicides. The consumption pattern in 2014 was insecticide (80%), herbicide (15%), and fungicide (2%). The use of pesticides in modern agriculture has led to worldwide non-point pollution in aqueous environments, affecting water bodies used for drinking water.
The high levels of pesticide and herbicide pollution in the Ganges pose a direct threat to the health of the river and the ecosystems it supports. These toxic pollutants are particularly dangerous to life in rivers, streams, and lakes, degrading the river's health and diminishing its capacity to support thriving ecosystems. The accumulation of toxic heavy metals in food sources like fish and vegetables poses severe human health risks to local populations who depend on these sources for sustenance and income.
Climate change is also emerging as a critical factor contributing to the ecological stress on the Ganges River. The river's inherent resilience is being diminished by the altering of its hydrological dynamics, further exacerbating the impact of pollution.
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Climate change
The Ganges River, or Ganga in the local language of Hindi, is a source of drinking water for almost 500 million people. It is also central to Indian spiritual life. The river is considered sacred in Hinduism, with millions of Hindus bathing in the river to cleanse themselves of their past sins. However, the Ganges is under increasing threat from climate change, industrial pollution, and unhygienic rituals and waste disposal.
The ecological degradation caused by pollution and climate change is threatening the livelihoods of vulnerable communities dependent on the river for fishing and farming. It is also endangering native species such as the Ganges river dolphin and softshell turtle. Efforts to restore the Ganges have been proposed, including interlinking rivers across different parts of the country to increase water supply. However, critics argue that these plans are flawed and that a more effective approach would be to involve local communities in tree-planting initiatives to address silting and erosion and restore tributaries that feed the Ganges.
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Population growth
The Ganges basin is one of the most densely populated regions globally, with an average population density of 520 people per square kilometre, compared to 312 for the rest of India. The population of the eleven Indian states comprising the basin has grown significantly, from 170 million in 1951 to 611 million in 2011. This growth has particularly impacted urban areas, with a 30% increase in population between 2001 and 2011. The river flows through numerous cities, with 29 having populations over one million, and the wastewater and waste discharge from these urban centres contribute significantly to the pollution of the Ganges.
The migration from rural areas to cities along the Ganges, such as Varanasi and Kolkata, has exacerbated the issue. The influx of people has led to higher volumes of domestic and industrial waste, often surpassing the capacity of existing sewage treatment infrastructure. This rapid urbanisation has resulted in more pollutants, including plastics, heavy metals, and organic waste, further degrading water quality.
The growing population's demand for water for various purposes, including irrigation, has also contributed to the river's decreasing water levels. The construction of dams and pumping stations for irrigation and drinking water has further reduced the river's flow, especially during dry seasons. This diminished flow affects the river's natural capacity to dilute and absorb pollutants, worsening the impact of pollution.
The population's dependence on the river for religious practices, such as ritual bathing and cremation, also adds to the pollution load. During festive seasons, over 70 million people bathe in the river, and offerings of food and leaves are left in the water. Traditional beliefs hold that cremation on the river's banks will cleanse the sins of the deceased, with an estimated 40,000 remains burned and disposed of in Varanasi alone each year. These practices contribute to the high levels of pollution in the river.
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Frequently asked questions
The Ganges is regarded as a sacred river by Hindus, but it is facing severe pollution, which is mostly a manmade problem. Some sources of pollution include:
- Industrial effluents and waste from factories, tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals located on its banks.
- Agricultural runoff and pesticides.
- Untreated sewage from the densely populated cities, towns, and villages along its banks.
- Ritual bathing, deposition of cremated or partially burned bodies, and offerings left in the river during religious gatherings.
Industrial effluents account for about 12% of the total waste in the Ganges. While this may seem like a relatively low proportion, it is a major concern as these effluents often contain toxic and non-biodegradable substances, including heavy metals like lead, copper, arsenic, and mercury. These toxins accumulate in fish and vegetables, posing severe health risks, especially carcinogenic risks, to local populations dependent on these food sources.
Pesticides and herbicides washed into the river act as toxic pollutants, posing a direct threat to aquatic life. In addition, nutrient runoff from agriculture causes a high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), leading to eutrophication, a process characterized by excessive algal growth. When the algae decompose, they deplete the dissolved oxygen essential for aquatic life, choking the life out of the water.
The Ganges basin is one of the most densely populated regions globally, with over 40% of India's population dependent on the river for water. Untreated sewage from these populations is dumped directly into the river, leading to high levels of disease-causing bacteria and toxic substances. Sewage also contributes to the high BOD, exacerbating the issue of eutrophication.
