Helena Joyce
India is facing severe river pollution due to a combination of factors, threatening the health of its water bodies and the well-being of its citizens. The main factors contributing to this issue include industrial waste discharge, with hazardous waste ending up in rivers, untreated sewage, agricultural runoff with pesticides and fertilizers, improper waste disposal, and religious practices like idol immersion. These factors lead to water contamination, impacting aquatic ecosystems and human health. Climate change, population growth, urbanization, and lack of awareness and education are underlying factors that have led to this critical situation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main factors of river pollution | Industrial waste discharge, untreated sewage, agricultural runoff with pesticides and fertilizers, improper waste disposal, and religious practices like immersing idols and ritual items in rivers |
| Number of polluted rivers | 303 (out of 605) |
| Most polluted rivers | Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Ghagghar, and Gomti |
| Rivers with high levels of BOD | Markanda, Kali, Amlakhadi, Yamuna canal, Yamuna at Delhi, and Betwa |
| Rivers with coliform pollution | Yamuna, Ganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Chambal, Mahi, Vardha, and Godavari |
| Government initiatives | Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS), Zero liquid discharge (ZLD), National Water Quality Monitoring Network |
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What You'll Learn
Industrial waste discharge
Industries in India often discard their wastewater directly into rivers, bypassing treatment processes. This wastewater contains harmful substances such as heavy metals and toxic chemicals. For instance, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that in 2016, 746 industries were directly releasing wastewater into the Ganga River, leading to the presence of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, copper, chromium, zinc, and arsenic. These metals pose a significant threat to aquatic life and human health, with potential health impacts including impaired cognitive function, gastrointestinal damage, and renal damage.
The industrial sector's contribution to river pollution extends beyond the discharge of wastewater. The "Make in India" initiative, for example, has been associated with increased industrial activities, which can lead to untreated industrial effluents contaminating rivers like the Damodar, known as the "Sorrow of Bengal" due to its severe pollution levels.
Additionally, India's rivers are affected by the unregulated nature of industrial wastewater discharge. While initiatives like Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) aim to eliminate liquid waste from highly polluting industries, the high installation costs and challenges in processing large amounts of dissolved solids in wastewater deter many industrial plants from adopting this technology. As a result, rivers bear the brunt of severe pollution, threatening aquatic ecosystems and the health of millions of people who depend on these water sources.
To address industrial waste discharge, the Indian government has taken several initiatives to prevent industrial pollution of water resources. However, more stringent regulations, effective pollution control measures, and sustainable practices are necessary to mitigate the impact of industrial activities on river ecosystems and ensure the availability of clean water for present and future generations.
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Untreated sewage
The problem is not only that India lacks sufficient treatment capacity but also that the existing sewage treatment plants do not operate and are not maintained. There is a large gap between the generation and treatment of domestic wastewater in India. Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS) have been adopted in some parts of India and have proven to be an economically feasible alternative to STPs, considering the high cost of installing and maintaining an STP.
The discharge of domestic wastewater in untreated form, mostly from urban centres, is a significant contributor to river pollution in India. This wastewater contains heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, copper, chromium, zinc, and arsenic, which negatively affect aquatic life and human health. The bioaccumulation of these metals can lead to impaired cognitive function, gastrointestinal damage, or renal damage.
Population growth and urbanization are critical factors that contribute to the problem of untreated sewage in India. In scenarios where population growth is high, but urbanization is slow, India is at risk of increased leakage into rivers due to the growth of the rural population living close to water courses. A study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) estimates that in 2020, municipal solid waste from India contributed to 10% of waste leakage to the world's rivers. This waste often ends up in rivers, causing severe pollution and threatening both human health and the environment.
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Agricultural runoff
In India, agricultural intensification has led to increased nitrogen pollution in rivers. Studies have shown that riverine nitrogen runoff is highly sensitive to changes in precipitation and the seasonal monsoon. While fertilizer application rates have risen significantly over the years, the impact on riverine runoff has been relatively uncertain, with greater effects observed on groundwater and atmospheric emissions. However, the lack of long-term data on riverine nitrogen fluxes and the unknown fate of reactive nitrogen applied to agricultural lands make it challenging to develop effective nitrogen management strategies.
The excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural lands, such as in the Brahmaputra basin, leads to the runoff of these harmful chemicals into rivers. This contamination affects both aquatic life and human health. Pesticides like Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), Aldrin, and Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), which have been banned internationally, are still used in India due to their cheap cost and easy availability. These chemicals are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and potential carcinogens, with levels in some Indian rivers exceeding the WHO permissible limit.
To mitigate the effects of agricultural runoff, implementing buffer zones, such as riparian buffer zones (RBZs), can help stabilize river banks and reduce the transport of pollutants from surrounding croplands into water bodies. These zones also support biodiversity and provide a defence mechanism against sedimentation and material fluxes, thereby conserving aquatic ecosystems.
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Population growth and urbanisation
Population growth and rapid urbanisation are major contributors to river pollution in India. The country's mounting waste problem, largely caused by untreated sewage, is a significant issue. India's rivers are essential for the survival of millions of people, and they also support 18% of the world's unique aquatic plant and animal species. However, a 2022 report by the Central Pollution Control Board found that more than half of India's 605 rivers were polluted.
A study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) estimated that in 2020, India's municipal solid waste contributed to 10% of waste leakage into the world's rivers. This is due to the country's high rates of mismanaged waste. For example, a 2019 assessment found that over 70% of towns along the Ganga River disposed of their waste directly into the river due to a lack of proper waste management facilities. This has resulted in the Ganga, India's largest river, becoming severely polluted.
Population growth has also led to increased industrialisation and agricultural activity, which are major sources of river pollution. Industrial wastewater is highly unregulated in India, with many plants discharging hazardous waste containing heavy metals and other toxins directly into rivers. In 2016-2017, it was estimated that 7.17 million tonnes of hazardous waste were produced by industrial plants. Additionally, agricultural runoff from excessive fertiliser and pesticide use in areas like the Brahmaputra basin contributes to river pollution.
The combination of population growth and urbanisation has resulted in India's rivers becoming severely polluted. This has domestic, regional, and global implications, impacting public health, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of those dependent on these rivers. Addressing the underlying factors of population growth and urbanisation is crucial for developing holistic approaches to safeguard India's vital river systems.
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Religious practices
India's rivers are facing a severe threat in the form of pollution. The main factors contributing to river pollution include industrial waste discharge, untreated sewage, agricultural runoff with pesticides and fertilizers, and improper waste disposal. However, religious practices also play a surprisingly significant role in polluting India's rivers.
The Ganges is one of the largest and most revered rivers in India, providing water to an estimated 500 million people in 29 cities, 70 towns, and thousands of villages. It is also a focal point of religious activities. The river is considered sacred in Hinduism, with Hindu goddesses often being part of the geographical landscape of India. The Ganges is designated as the "National River of India", reflecting its enduring "unique position".
The river is associated with various religious rituals, including ritual bathing, leaving offerings, and the deposition of cremated or half-burnt bodies. Every 12 years, the city of Allahabad hosts the Kumbh Mela, a religious festival during which the central ritual is bathing in the Ganges to achieve moksha. In 2001, over 30 million pilgrims attended, making it the largest gathering in human history.
However, these religious practices have contributed to the severe pollution of the Ganges. The river has become one of the most polluted bodies of water in the world due to India's rapid industrialization and population growth. The water has been linked to waterborne diseases such as dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, and severe diarrhea, which is a leading cause of death among children in India.
Other religious practices that contribute to river pollution in India include immersing statues of deities, flowers, pots, and ashes into the rivers. The paint and decorations on the statues are not environmentally friendly and pollute the water, affecting the flora and fauna.
While some Hindus have called for serious efforts to clean the Ganges, others have ignored the crisis or do not believe in Hindu environmentalism. Environmentalists have suggested providing alternatives, such as creating immersion sites for religious ceremonies near rivers, and improving education and awareness about the issue.
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