Abstract
The Ganga River is one of the most important rivers in India. It is a lifeline for millions of people, providing water for drinking, irrigation, and transportation. However, the Ganga River has been facing a number of challenges, including pollution, deforestation, and climate change.
In recent years, there have been a number of efforts to rejuvenate the Ganga River. These efforts have included the construction of sewage treatment plants, the improvement of riverfronts, and the planting of trees.
This paper will examine the implications of these recent efforts for the conservation of the Ganga River. It will also discuss the challenges that still need to be addressed in order to fully conserve the river.
Keywords
- CPCB- Central Pollution Control Board.
- BOD- Biochemical Oxygen Demand.
- FC -Faecal Coliform.
- DO- Dissolved Oxygen.
- SPCB- State Pollution Control Boards.
- WII- Wildlife Institute of India.
- CIFRI- Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute.
- GPI- Grossly Polluting Industries.
- NMCG – National mission for clean ganga
Introduction
“गंगा सिंधु सरस्वती च यमुना गोदावरी नर्मदा
कावेरी सरयू महेन्द्रतनया चर्मण्यवती वेदिका।
क्षिप्रा वेत्रवती महासुरनदी ख्याता जया गण्डकी
पूर्णाः पूर्णजलैः समुद्रसहिताः कुर्वन्तु मे मंगलम् ।।”
“All the above-mentioned rivers full of water, including the sea, bless me. The glory of Ganga is beyond description. The tradition of making one’s life meaningful by bowing to him is very ancient”.
Ganga, the holiest river of Hinduism, is one of the longest river systems in India, having a length of about 2,525 km. The river originates from the Gangotri glacier near Gaumukh in the Uttar Kashi district of Uttarakhand.
The Ganga basin is one of the most populated basins in the world and supports millions of people. It covers states such as Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, which render the rivers water polluted over much of their course.
Pollutants dumped into the river include industrial waste, agricultural runoff, animal carcasses, and the remains of partially burned or unburned bodies from funeral pyres.
History of NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga)
On August 12, 2011, the NMCG became a registered society under the Societies Registration Act 1860 with the aim of reducing pollution of the Ganga. It is an implementation arm of the NGRBA, which stands dissolved after the constitution of the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of the River Ganga, which is also called the National Ganga Council by the amendment of 2019.
Research Methodology
This research is of a descriptive nature and is based on secondary sources of information available on government sites, government reports, and standard books.
Review of Literature
Statistics
Under the Namami Gange Programme carried out by the government, water quality assessment is being carried out by the CPCB at 97 locations in five main stem states with the help of the concerned State Pollution Control Board. The objective is to ascertain the quality of water for outdoor bathing.
According to the observations made by them,
- BOD has been found within acceptable limits except in the following locations: Shitalatala in West Bengal Kannauj to Kala Kankar and Mirzapur to Tarighat and Gazipur in Uttar Pradesh
- As compared to 2014, the median data of water quality parameters with respect to BOD, FC, and DO has improved in many of the locations under consideration.
Since the commencement of the mission, the government has installed treatment plants capable of treating 20% of the sewage generated in five states such as Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. This is estimated to increase to about 33% by 2024 and 60% by 2026 (according to a report published in The Hindu).
Causes of Ganga Pollution
- Huge amounts of untreated waste are disposed of by the river streams daily.
- Waste from industries, hospitals, chemical plants, distilleries. Industralisation, a rapidly growing population with rising standards of living, and urbanization have left rivers and other water resources exposed to forms of degradation which makes the water unfit for even bathing.
- Agricultural, i.e, frequent use of fertilizers which flow into the stream, disturbs the aquatic environment to a great extent.
- Worshipping of rivers has become a major problem these days due to the methods attached to the worship- bathing in the river Ganga is considered to be holy, it is considered to wash off all the sins of a man committed by him in his whole life. Example -Kumbh mela- the largest peaceful gathering of pilgrims on the earth, during which the pilgrims bathe in the river. It is celebrated after a cycle of every twelve years in four major cities, such as Allahabad, Ujjain, Haridwar, and Nashik. At Allahabad, it is celebrated in prayagraj at the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
- Worshipping the river by offering the river flowers and other valuable things.
- People dispose of the ashes and bodies of dead people. Organic waste- It is the major cause of pollution of the river. The river flows through majorly populated cities. A large proportion of the population dump their domestic waste into the river, like laundry, bathing, public defecation, un-burnt dead bodies, sewage waste etc.
- Lack of proper infrastructure for sewage treatment in the industries.
- Lack of infrastructure for building proper sewage systems in the country and to treat and to dispose of.
Objectives of the Ganga Rejuvenation Project
Vision– To restore wholesomeness of the river defined in terms of ensuring “Aviral Dhara”- continuous flow, “Nirmal Dhara”- unpolluted flow with geological and ecological integrity.
The primary objectives of the Ganga Rejuvenation Project include:
- Pollution Control: Reduce pollution levels in the Ganga River by promoting cleaner industrial practices, proper sewage treatment, and monitoring of effluent discharge.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Enhance the ecological health of the Ganga River and its tributaries by protecting and restoring critical habitats and conserving endangered species.
“गंगा गंगेतियै म योजनानां शतेपि।
स्थितैरुच्चारितं हन्ति पापं जन्मत्रयार्जितम्।“
Bathing in the Ganges river water soon destroys all the sins and attains unparalleled virtue.
- Cultural and Religious Significance: Preserve the cultural and religious significance of the Ganga River while promoting sustainable practices among pilgrims and local communities.
- Water Resource Management: Improve the sustainable management of water resources within the Ganga basin to ensure adequate water flow and quality.
Strategies and Actions Taken
The Ganga Rejuvenation Project has implemented various strategies and actions to achieve its objectives, including:
- Construction of Sewage Treatment Plants: Building sewage treatment plants along the riverbanks to treat domestic and industrial wastewater before it enters the river.
- Afforestation and Riverbank Restoration: Planting trees along the riverbanks to stabilize them, prevent erosion, and improve the river’s ecological health.
- Regulation of Industrial Discharge: Monitoring and regulating industrial effluent discharge into the river to reduce pollution levels.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Conducting awareness campaigns to educate the public, pilgrims, and communities about the importance of the Ganga River and sustainable practices.
- River surface cleaning- Collecting floating solids from the ghats and rivers.
- Biodiversity Conservation- To address the said issue, institutions such as WII and CIFRI have been entrusted with the responsibility of developing science-based aquatic species restoration plans.
- Public Awareness- activities such as rallies, camps, exhibitions, shramdaan, competitions were organized advertisements on various platforms were performed. One of such is the release of Ganga Theme Song on various social media platforms.
- Monitoring of industrial effluents by inspection of various GPI.
Successes and Challenges
Successes:
- Reduction in Pollution: The project has led to a noticeable reduction in pollution levels in some stretches of the Ganga River due to improved sewage treatment and stricter regulations on industrial discharge.
- Ecological Restoration: Efforts to restore critical habitats and improve water quality have benefited the river’s biodiversity
Challenge
- Implementation Delays: The Ganga Rejuvenation Project has faced delays in implementation due to bureaucratic hurdles, funding issues, and coordination challenges. There is a lack of coordination between the different stakeholders involved in the Ganga rejuvenation program. This can lead to delays and inefficiencies in the implementation of the program
- Monitoring and Enforcement: Ensuring continuous monitoring and strict enforcement of regulations remain on-going challenges.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Involving all stakeholders, including local communities and industries, in conservation efforts has proven challenging. There is a lack of public awareness about the importance of conserving the Ganga River. This can make it difficult to get people to participate in the conservation efforts.
- Inadequate funding: The Ganga rejuvenation program is a long-term and expensive undertaking. The government needs to provide adequate funding in order to ensure that the program is successful.
Implications of Recent Efforts
The recent efforts to rejuvenate the Ganga River have had a number of positive implications. These include:
- Improved water quality: The construction of new sewage treatment plants and the improvement of existing ones has led to a significant improvement in the water quality of the Ganga River. This has been achieved by reducing the amount of untreated sewage that is discharged into the river.
- Reduced pollution: The reduction in pollution has led to an improvement in the overall health of the river ecosystem. This has been beneficial for the aquatic life that lives in the river, as well as for the people who use the river for drinking water and bathing.
- Increased biodiversity: The improvement in water quality and the reduction in pollution have helped to increase the biodiversity of the Ganga River. This has been seen in the reappearance of some endangered species, such as the Ganges dolphin. According to an article published in The Hindu on 1st September 2023, there is a rise in the dolphin population and an increased presence of Indian carp (a fish species) due to improvement of water quality along the stretch of a river.
- Improved livelihood opportunities: The improvement of the Ganga River has also led to improved livelihood opportunities for the people who live in the river basin. This has been achieved through the development of tourism, fishing, and other economic activities that are dependent on the river.
Constitutional Provisions
- Article 48A – provides for the improvement and protection of environment and protect forests and wild life
- Article 51A (g) – imposes fundamental duty on every citizen to protect the environment including rivers, forests, lakes and wildlife.
- Article 21– also extends to have a decent standard of living and a clean environment.
Case Law
M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1987) [1988 SCR (2) 530]
This case was filed by M.C. Mehta, an environmental lawyer, challenging the pollution of the Ganga River. Certain tanneries were discharging effluents into the Ganga river without any primary treatment despite frequent reminders by the authorities. The Supreme Court of India ordered the government to take steps to clean up the river and also ordered the tanneries to discontinue their functions.
Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India [(1996) 5 SCC 647]
In this case polluters pay principle was applied by the court where industries were directed to relocate and pay 25% of the cost of the land.
Suggestions
In addition to the efforts that are already being made, there are a number of other things that can be done to conserve the Ganga River. These include:
- Reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture. This will help to reduce the amount of pollution that enters the river.
- Promote the use of rainwater harvesting and other water conservation techniques. This will help to reduce the demand for water from the river.
- Raise awareness about the importance of the Ganga River among the public. This will help to create a sense of ownership and responsibility for the river.
- Support the work of organizations that are working to conserve the Ganga River. This will help to amplify the impact of the conservation efforts.
By working together, we can ensure that the Ganga River remains a vital part of our environment for generations to come.
Conclusion
The recent Ganga rejuvenation efforts have been a major step forward in the fight to save the river. However, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed in order to fully conserve the river. With continued effort and commitment, it is possible to fully conserve this important natural resource.
Citations and References
- NMCG – https://nmcg.nic.in/
- Geography NCERT class 11- Drainage system
- PIB- Statistics https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1906491
- M.C Mehta v/s union of India- 1988 SCR (2) 530 https://indiankanoon.org/doc/59060/
- causes of pollution https://pscnotes.in/causes-of-pollution-in-ganga-river/
- Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India (1996) 5 SCC 647 https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1934103/
- The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/seven-years-down-cleaning-the-ganga-remains-a-work-in-progress/article67259400.ece
Mansi Kabir
ILS Law College, Pune, Maharashtra