Ganges Pollution: Understanding The Human Impact

The Ganges River, a holy river in Hinduism, is revered by Hindus and has been the lifeline of the northern Indian subcontinent for centuries. However, this sacred river now faces severe pollution problems due to a combination of factors. With a massive population relying on it, the Ganges has become a dumping ground for untreated sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff, leading to high levels of toxic substances and disease-causing bacteria. The river's flow has also been disrupted by dams and water diversion, impacting its self-cleaning capabilities and endangering the rich wildlife that depends on it.

Population growth and density

The increasing population along the Ganges River has resulted in a substantial amount of untreated sewage being discharged into the river daily. It is estimated that nearly 37 billion liters of raw sewage, equivalent to a Sydney Harbor's worth of sewage every two weeks, flows into the Ganges. This sewage comes from the numerous cities, towns, and villages situated along the river's banks, with approximately 75% of the pollution originating from municipal sources.

The high population density in the region has also led to the disposal of industrial waste and agricultural runoff into the river. As the population grows, more industries and agricultural activities are established, contributing to the pollution of the river. Additionally, traditional Hindu practices, such as cremating bodies on the river's banks and immersing the ashes in the water, further add to the pollution. It is estimated that over 30,000 bodies are cremated annually, and approximately 300 metric tons of ash are immersed in the river.

The population growth in the region has also led to the construction of dams and barrages along the river to meet the increasing water demands. However, these structures have adversely affected the river's flow and increased salinity levels, impacting groundwater and soil quality. The reduction in flow has impaired the river's ability to dilute and naturally cleanse itself of pollutants, further exacerbating the pollution problem.

Furthermore, the population density in the region has resulted in the extraction of water from the river for irrigation and other purposes, which has contributed to the river's declining water levels. This over-extraction has disrupted the river's ecological flow and hindered its natural ability to maintain its health and recover from pollution. The combination of population growth, increasing water demands, and the lack of adequate wastewater treatment facilities has severely impacted the Ganges River's health and ecological balance.

Agricultural and industrial waste

The Ganges River is the largest river in India and supplies water to approximately 40% of the country's population across 11 states, serving an estimated 500 million people. The river is sacred in Hindu culture, and the city of Varanasi is considered holy by Hindus.

However, the Ganges has been facing significant pollution problems due to agricultural and industrial waste. The river flows through a densely populated region, with water being extracted for agriculture and irrigation, which has led to a reduction in its flow. This has impacted the river's ability to clean itself and maintain its ecological flow.

Agricultural practices have contributed to the pollution of the Ganges River. The use of chemicals and pesticides in agriculture can lead to runoff that ends up in the river. Additionally, the disposal of animal waste and remnants of animal carcasses into the river also contributes to pollution levels.

The leather industry, particularly the tanning process, has been identified as a significant source of industrial waste in the Ganges. Tanneries discharge liquid effluents containing organic matter and dangerous toxic chemicals such as chromium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, nickel, sulphide ammonium, chemical dyes, sulfuric acid, and methane. The city of Kanpur, located on the banks of the Ganges, is known for its thriving leather industry, employing around 50,000 people in over 400 tanneries. However, the treatment of chromium-laden waste has been inadequate, leading to a ten-fold increase in chromium levels in the river.

Other industrial cities along the Ganges, such as Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Patna, also contribute to the river's pollution by dumping untreated waste. These cities are home to chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals, all of which can generate significant amounts of waste. For example, a coal-based power plant on the Pandu River, a tributary of the Ganges, produces fly ash containing toxic heavy metals like lead and copper. This ash is released into the river, significantly increasing the concentration of copper in the water.

The discharge of industrial waste into the Ganges River has severe environmental and health consequences. The river has been found to contain high levels of disease-causing bacteria and toxic substances, including heavy metals. These pollutants pose a significant threat to both the aquatic life in the river and the millions of people who depend on it for their daily needs.

Cremation practices

The cremation process involves burning bodies on wooden pyres, requiring a large amount of wood, which has led to rapid deforestation in the surrounding areas. The collection of wood for funeral pyres has resulted in thousands of pounds of wood being taken from forests, with wealthier families requiring up to 1,000 pounds of wood for a single cremation. This has led to concerns about the environmental impact of the cremation rituals, with some suggesting the adoption of a Western-style closed cremation system, which has largely been rejected in India.

In addition to the environmental impact of wood collection, the cremation process itself contributes to air and water pollution. The burning of bodies releases pollutants into the air, and the ashes are often immersed in the river, along with the remnants of partially burned or unburned bodies. The high volume of cremations has led to an increase in air and water pollution in the surrounding areas, with the river becoming an open sewer in some places.

The combination of pollution and cremation rituals has created an environment that feels far from sacred, with reports of dead animals, sewage, and effluent floating in the river. However, the religious significance of the river and the belief in the purifying power of the water pose challenges to addressing the pollution caused by cremation practices. Hindus believe that cremation on the banks of the Ganges and floating down the river will cleanse the sins of the deceased and carry them to salvation. This belief has resulted in a continuous cycle of pollution, as families bring their deceased loved ones to the river for cremation and ash immersion.

While efforts have been made to address the pollution, such as the construction of electric crematoria as an alternative to wooden pyres, the scale of the problem remains immense. The Ganges River, revered as a goddess by Hindus, continues to be a site of cremation and ash scattering, with millions visiting the river each year to perform these rituals. The conflict between religious traditions and environmental concerns persists, and finding a balance between preserving religious practices and protecting the environment remains a complex challenge.

Water extraction and dams

Water extraction and damming have significantly impacted the Ganges River, contributing to its pollution and ecological degradation. The river supplies water to approximately 40% of India's population across 11 states, serving an estimated 500 million people. This massive demand for water has led to excessive water extraction from the Ganges for various purposes, including irrigation, agriculture, and meeting the general needs of the populace.

However, this excessive extraction has disrupted the river's natural flow and ecological balance. Dr. Hussain, who supervises the Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation program, explains that the river has lost its ability to clean itself and maintain its ecological or environmental flow (e-flow) due to human diversion. The construction of dams along the Ganges has further exacerbated this issue. For instance, the Haridwar Dam, built in 1854 during British rule, has been implicated in reducing the river's flow, contributing to its decay.

The Farakka Barrage, initially intended to divert freshwater into the Hooghly River, has inadvertently increased salinity in the Ganges, negatively impacting groundwater and soil quality. Additionally, the proposed construction of dams, such as the Kotli-Bhel dam at Devprayag, threatens to submerge substantial areas of nearby forests, leading to the destruction of forest ecosystems and wildlife displacement. The Kanpur barrage, another dam in the Ganges, is used to supply drinking water to cities during the dry season, but downstream, it results in inadequate water volumes. The pumping stations located on the banks of the Ganges downstream of the Kanpur barrage serve the region's irrigation needs, further extracting base flows from the main river.

To address these issues, there have been proposals to demolish upstream dams to increase water flow during the dry season and construct new upstream dams or coastal reservoirs to provide dilution water. However, these solutions come with their own challenges, such as significant pumping costs and environmental impacts. The Ganges River is vital not only for the people it serves but also for the diverse ecosystems that depend on it. Therefore, finding a balance between meeting water demands and preserving the river's ecological integrity is crucial for the health and well-being of the region.

Sewage and waste

The Ganges River in India is more than 2,500 kilometres long and has the most populated river basin in the world. The river is revered as the holiest of rivers by Hindus. The combination of population growth and traditional Hindu customs has resulted in the river being used as a receptacle for human sewage and waste, contributing to its pollution.

Human Sewage

Untreated sewage is one of the main causes of pollution in the Ganges River. With the river flowing past 29 cities, each with a population of over 1 million people, approximately 75% of the Ganga's pollution comes from municipal sewage. Nearly 37 billion litres of untreated sewage flow into the river daily. This has led to high levels of disease-causing bacteria and toxic substances in the water, making it unfit for bathing and other activities.

Waste from Cremation

The Hindu holy city of Varanasi, located on the banks of the Ganges, is estimated to cremate 40,000 bodies each year. According to traditional Hindu beliefs, being cremated on the banks of the Ganges and having one's ashes cast into the river will cleanse the sins of the deceased and grant them direct passage to heaven or salvation. However, many families cannot afford sufficient quantities of cremation wood, resulting in partially burned or unburned bodies being disposed of in the river. This, along with the immersion of cremation ashes, contributes to the pollution of the river.

Animal Waste

In addition to human sewage and cremation waste, animal waste and carcasses are also dumped into the river, further contributing to its pollution.

The pollution of the Ganges River has severe consequences for both people and wildlife. Water from the river has been linked to various diseases, including dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, and severe diarrhoea, which is a leading cause of death among children in India. Additionally, the river's biodiversity is at risk, with species such as the Ganges river dolphin, turtles, and otters being negatively impacted by the polluted water.

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