for millions of people in India, river Ganga is the most sacred river. It is considered asmother
and goddess. It is also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it
for their daily needs. River Ganga is the third largest river in the world by the amount of water
that flows through it. It is the longest river in India. The river water of Ganga is used for
irrigation, transportation and fishing. The Gangetic plain formed by river Ganga is one of the
most fertile lands on earth. This is why almost 10% of the world population lives here and earns
its livelihood. The Ganga, in India is the most worshipped body of water. The irony here is that
inspite of being the most worshipped river, it is also the diniest one. It carries some metals
thrown out by tanneries, waste produced by industries and urban waste from different cities. All
this has made river Ganga the fifth most polluted river in the world. Another major reason that
adds to the Ganga river pollution is the coal based power plants on its banks which burn tons of
coal every year and produce tons of fly ash. This ash mixed with domestic waste water is
released in the river. This bad situation calls for an urgent need to make efforts to reduce
pollution and revive river Ganga. To achieve these objectives, Government of India has started
a programme named "Namami Gange Programme". The main pillars of this programme are
sewage treatment, river surface cleaning, afforestation, river front development and public
awareness. The importance of the success of ‘Namami Gange Programme can be seen through
the following lines : "If Ganga dies, India dies. If Ganga thrives, India thrives. No Ganga, No
India."
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any eight of the
questions that follow :
(a) For whom is river Ganga a life line?
(b) For what purposes is the Ganga river water used ?
(c) Why does almost ten percent of the world population live in the Gangetic Plain?
(d) What are the pollutants that make river Ganga very dirty ?
(e) How do the coal based power plants pollute river Ganga?
(1) Which two purposes will be served by the programme named "Namami Gange"?
(g) Write any two main pillars of the "Namami Gange Programme".
(h) Most people in India consider the Ganga as
(1) What is the irony of the Ganga being a most worshipped river?
Writing (30 marks)
Answers
(a) The river Ganga is a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs.
(b) The Ganga river water is used for irrigation, transportation and fishing.
(c) Almost ten per cent of the world population live in the Gangetic Plain because it is considered one of the most fertile lands on earth.
(d) The pollutants that make river Ganga very dirty include metals thrown out by tanneries, waste produced by industries and urban waste from different cities.
(e) The coal-based power plants, that are present on the river's banks, burn tonnes of coal every year and produce a lot of fly ash. This ash mixed with domestic wastewater is released into the river.
(f) The programme named 'Namami Gange' will serve the two purposes of reducing pollution and reviving the river Ganga.
(g) Two main pillars of the 'Namami Gange' programme include sewage treatment and river surface cleaning.
(h) Most people in India consider the Ganga as the most sacred river, a mother and goddess.
(i) The irony of the Ganga being the most worshipped river is the fact that it is also the dingiest one.
(a) For whom is river Ganga a life line?
Answer (a) For millions of Indians who live along it Ganga river is life line.
(b) For what purposes is the Ganga river water used ?
Answer (b) Ganga river water is used for the following purposes:
• Irrigation
• Transportation
• Fishing
(c) Why does almost ten percent of the world population live in the Gangetic Plain?
Answer (c) The Gangetic plain formed by river Ganga is one of the most fertile lands on earth. That's why almost ten percentage of the world population live there.
(d) What are the pollutants that make river Ganga very dirty ?
Answer (d) The pollutants that make river Ganga very dirty are the following:
• The metals thrown out by tanneries.
• Waste produced by industries.
• Urban waste from different cities.
• Coal based power plants.
(e) How do the coal based power plants pollute river Ganga?
Answer (e) Coal based power plants on its banks which burn tons of coal every year and produce tons of fly ash. This ash mixed with domestic waste water is released in the river.
(f) Which two purposes will be served by the programme named "Namami Gange"?
Answer (f) Coal based power plants on its banks which burn tons of coal every year and produce tons of fly ash. This ash mixed with domestic waste water is released in the river.
Two purposes due to this bad situation will be served by the programme named "Namami Gange" are the following:
• Reduce pollution
• Revive river Ganga.
(g) Write any two main pillars of the "Namami Gange Programme".
Answer (g) The main pillars of the programme "Namami Gange Programme" are the following:
• Sewage treatment
• River surface cleaning
• Afforestation
• River front development
• Public awareness.
(h) Most people in India consider the Ganga as
Answer (h) Most people in India consider the Ganga as Scared River, goddess and mother.
(i) What is the irony of the Ganga being a most worshipped river?
Answer (i) The Ganga, in India is the most worshipped body of water. The irony here is that inspite of being the most worshipped river, it is also the diniest one.