Ganges Pollution: Understanding The Crisis And Its Causes

The Ganges River, also known as Ganga, is the largest river in India and is considered sacred by the people of the country. The river supplies water to approximately 40% of India's population across 11 states and serves an estimated 500 million people. However, the Ganges is one of India's most polluted rivers, with human sewage, animal waste, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff being the main causes of water pollution.

Industrial waste

The Ganges is the largest river in India, supplying water to approximately 40% of the country's population across 11 states. It is also considered sacred by many Indians, who believe that being cremated on its banks and floating down the river will cleanse the sins of the deceased.

However, the Ganges is one of India's most polluted rivers, with industrial waste being a significant contributor. Several industrial cities have sprung up along the river's banks, including Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Patna. These cities are home to various industries, such as tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals, which actively dump untreated waste into the river. The discharge of industrial effluents, particularly from manufacturers of rubber, plastic, and leather, has severely affected marine life, with fish growth significantly slowing down.

The burning of coal by power plants located near the river also contributes to industrial pollution. For example, a coal-fired power plant on the banks of the Pandu River, a Ganges tributary, burns 600,000 tonnes of coal annually, producing 210,000 tonnes of fly ash. This ash is ultimately discharged into the Pandu River as a slurry, containing toxic heavy metals like lead and copper. Industrial effluents account for around 12% of the total effluent entering the Ganges, and while they may seem like a small portion, they are a serious concern due to their poisonous and non-biodegradable nature.

The disposal of plastic and industrial trash, such as effluent from factories along the river's banks, further exacerbates the problem. Despite efforts by the government to address the issue, such as the Namami Gange project, which has spent an estimated ₹30 billion (US$460 million), the river remains severely polluted.

The pollution in the Ganges poses a significant threat to both human health and the environment. Studies have indicated the presence of high levels of carcinogenic elements and microbial contamination in the water, making it unsuitable for domestic use and dangerous for those who rely on the river for their daily needs.

Sewage

A large proportion of the sewage in the Ganges comes from domestic water usage. Three-quarters of the sewage generated in the northern plains remains untreated before being discharged into the river and its tributaries. A review in 2022 indicated that only 37% of the 72,368 million liters per day of sewage generated is treated. The river runs through many cities with populations of over 100,000 people, contributing to the high volume of sewage.

The disposal of human sewage and animal waste is one of the main causes of water pollution in the Ganges. Traditional Hindu beliefs hold that being cremated on the banks of the Ganges and floating down the river will cleanse the sins of the deceased and carry them directly to salvation. In the Hindu holy city of Varanasi alone, an estimated 40,000 bodies are cremated each year and placed into the river, with many only partially burned due to the high cost of cremation wood.

The river also receives industrial waste from the many tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals located in the industrial cities on its banks, such as Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Patna. These cities actively contribute to the river's pollution by dumping untreated waste into it. Industrial effluents account for around 12% of the total effluent entering the Ganges and are a serious concern due to their toxic and non-biodegradable nature.

The pollution in the Ganges poses a significant threat to both human health and the environment. Studies have indicated the presence of high levels of carcinogenic elements and microbial contamination in the water. The water has been linked to various diseases, including dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, and severe diarrhea, a leading cause of child mortality in India.

Religious practices

The Ganges is the largest river in India and is considered sacred by the people of the country. It is worshipped as a deity and is the most sacred river in India. Traditional Hindu beliefs hold that being cremated on the banks of the Ganges and floating down the river will cleanse the sins of the deceased and carry them directly to salvation. In the Hindu holy city of Varanasi alone, an estimated 40,000 bodies are cremated each year and deposited into the river. Many families cannot afford the high cost of cremation wood, so the bodies are often only half-burnt. This religious practice is a source of pollution for the river.

The Ganges supplies water to approximately 40% of India's population across 11 states and serves an estimated 500 million people. The river's water is used for various purposes, including food and irrigation, and it supports a large population of people, animals, and industries along its banks. This heavy usage has led to a significant increase in sewage and waste disposal, with a high organic load, being released into the river.

The disposal of human and animal remains, as well as the increasing population density, contributes to the pollution of the Ganges. The river runs through many cities and settlements, with a combined population of millions of people. This population is responsible for a large amount of sewage and waste water that ends up in the river. The high organic load in the sewage and waste water can lead to water-borne diseases, such as dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, and severe diarrhea, which remains a leading cause of death among children in India.

The construction of dams along the Ganges, such as the Haridwar Dam built during British rule in 1854, has also contributed to the river's pollution. These dams reduce the river's flow and can increase salinity, adversely affecting groundwater and soil. Additionally, the industrial cities and facilities along the Ganges' banks actively contribute to pollution by dumping untreated waste into the river. Tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals are among those discharging waste into the water.

The religious practice of cremating bodies and disposing of ashes in the Ganges, while culturally significant, has led to water pollution. The partially burnt remains and ashes can contain harmful substances that further contribute to the degradation of water quality.

Agricultural sources

The Ganges River is the largest river in India and is considered sacred by the country's Hindu population. The river is a source of water for approximately 40% of India's population, serving an estimated 500 million people.

Agriculture is one of the primary sources of pollution in the Ganges. The river's catchment area comprises a significant portion of agricultural land, which contributes to nutrient pollution, specifically nitrogen and phosphorous. The increase in agricultural land area leads to a larger nutrient concentration, which, in turn, leads to an increase in faecal coliform concentration.

The use of pesticides in agriculture has also contributed to the pollution of the river. Although the level of pesticides in the water has decreased in the last decade, the levels of some organochlorines are still beyond the permissible limits for drinking water.

To address the issue of agricultural pollution in the Ganges, sustainable farming practices have been proposed. These include conservation agriculture, crop rotation, and the use of organic fertilizers to minimize pollution and agricultural runoff.

Population growth

The increasing population density along the river's banks further exacerbates the problem. The Ganges flows through numerous cities, towns, and villages, with 29 cities alone having populations of over 1 million people each. This high concentration of people living in close proximity to the river leads to a significant amount of sewage discharge into the Ganges and its tributaries. It is estimated that 37 billion litres of untreated sewage flow into the river daily, contributing to the high levels of pollution.

The population's daily activities, such as bathing, laundry, and cleaning, also impact the river's health. Traditional practices, such as open defecation and cremating bodies on the river's ghats, have been identified as sources of pollution. While the government has implemented initiatives to reduce open defecation, such as the Clean India campaign, the sheer number of people relying on the river for these practices has a cumulative effect on water quality.

Additionally, population growth has driven the need for more agricultural land and water diversion for irrigation. This has further reduced the river's flow and impaired its natural ability to self-purify. The construction of dams along the Ganges basin, aimed at meeting the water demands of the growing population, has also contributed to the river's decay by altering its natural flow and submerging large areas of nearby forests, destroying ecosystems and wildlife.

Overall, population growth has had a significant impact on water pollution in the Ganges. The combination of increasing population density, sewage discharge, industrial activities, and agricultural demands has overwhelmed the river's capacity to self-purify, leading to a deterioration in water quality and posing risks to human health and the environment. Addressing population growth and implementing sustainable practices are crucial for the long-term health and preservation of the Ganges.

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