What are the damaging effects of water pollution on river Ganga
Answers
river GangaThe Ganges River Pollution is now at such a high
level that the amount of toxins, chemicals and other
dangerous bacteria found in the river are now almost
3000 times over the limit suggested by the WHO as
'safe'.
The river directly and indirectly affects the largest
population of any river in the world with over more
than 420 million people who rely on it for food,
water, bathing and agriculture. And that is not to
mention the tens of Millions of pilgrims who venture
to India's most holy of rivers each year to bathe and
worship.
FACTS ABOUT GANGES RIVER POLLUTION
Approximately 1 billion litres of raw, untreated
sewage are dumped in the river on a daily basis. The
amount has more than doubled in the last 20 years
and experts predict another 100% increase in the
following 20 years.The rapid explosion of India's population in the last
25 years coupled with lax regulations on industry
has put a huge strain on the river leading to an
explosion in Ganges river pollution.Thousands of bodies are cremated on the banks of
the river yearly with many being released into the
river with hopes that their souls may have a direct
path to heaven.Ganges river pollutionPin ItHundreds Unwanted or 'illegitimate' babies, cattle
and other animal carcases are also dumped in the
Ganges again with religious significanceThe levels of Coliform bacteria is over 2800 times
the level considered safe by the W.H.O (world health
organisation).A ROUTE TO HEAVEN AND A HIGHWAY OF FLESH
One of the more alarming issues facing everybody
remotely related to the river are the dead bodies of
both humans and cattle which serenely float by
almost completely unnoticed, or perhaps
consciously ignored by busy bathers hoping to purify
their souls.
The bodies are released into the river with a hope
that the soul will be saved and be immediately
received by heaven.
Right: A body washed up on the banks near Varanasi
GANGES RIVER POLLUTION AND INDUSTRY
Some of the main Ganges river pollution contributors
are those in industry - specifically in this case those
of the leather industry who use vast amounts of
chromium and other toxins and chemicals - the
majority of which ends up in the slow paced waters
of the Ganges during the dry season, peak time for
the tanning industry and also when the river is
moving at its slowest.
Thanks to globalisation, international, national and
local government this trend seems unlikely to get
better with more and more factories cropping up
every week and all running under a distinct lack of
regulations.
Below: Chromium pollutes the Ganges turning it
toxic and poisonous
CONSEQUENCES OF GANGES RIVER POLLUTION
Now these problems are huge on their own but
couple with this with fact that India's holiest river,
specifically at the banks of the ton of Varanasi, is
considered as the pilgrimage site with tens of
thousands of pilgrims entering the city every month
to bathe, wash, sip and drink the water.
The river is now a leading cause of infant and child
mortality rates, skin problems and some more,
serious disabilities -
The Yamuna river, the main contributor to the
Ganges has been completely devoid of all water and
sea life for the past 15 year!
Another of the main issues of the Ganges river
pollution is the vast irrigation networks which have
cropped up to feed India's ever expanding
population - These vast networks of canals and
ditches slowly but surely filter off the water from the
Ganges and it's subsidiaries causing an alarming
drop in the water levels, especially in the dry
season. Another sad side story of the destruction of
the Ganges is the downfall of the native Ganges
river dolphins.
SO WHAT NOW?
Ganges river pollution is getting seriously bad( as
you may have now noticed) and something needs to
be done now.
A solution however, seems far away with gross
negligence, ignorance and stupidity pouring from
every sect of Indian society from Government, the
people and of course big business which still
continues to rape India and her people at every
level.
But, all hope is not lost and there does seem to be
some hope on the horizon for the serious case of the
Ganges river pollution. The world bank has agreed to
loan India al most $1 Billion to clean up the Ganges -
Not an insignificant amount by anyone's standards.
What is more, some of the claims made by Hindus
about the rivers purifying effects do have some
basis in science. The river is thought to be
especially full of 'bacteriophages'... little things that
destroy bacteria specifically those known for
causing cholera and dysentery epidemics.
The river also has a unique ability to hold and retain
oxygen in record amounts. Although nobody knows
why, this doe mean that things can still grow.
Having said all this though, once you have seen the
river running through Varanasi you will no doubt feel
as I do about this. The thick black sludge
transporting almost everything but water.
Damaging Effect of Water Pollution on River Ganga:
River Ganga is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent. An estimated 2,000,000 people iritually take a bath daily in the river which is considered holy. While it may be considered holy, it is one of the dirtiest rivers in the world because it is highly polluted .
Cause:
- Discharge of domestic sewage into the river
- Discharge of industrial sewage into the river
- Excessive use of synthetic detergents
- Excessive use of chemical fertilisers which get washed into the river with surface water
- Remains of human and animal corpses
Effect: The excessive pollution of the Ganga river affects about 400 million people who live close to the river. It causes health hazards in the form of diseases like dysentery, cholera and diarrhoea by either direct bathing in the dirty water or by drinking it.
Efforts to save river Ganga: The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was a programme launched by the Government of India in April 1985, in order to reduce the pollution level in the river. However, the increasing population, industrialisation and increasing use of chemical fertilisers and detergents have already damaged this mighty river beyond repair. The activities of GAP initiated in 1985 were declared closed on 31 March, 2000. In 2008, the government has set up the Ganga River Basin Authority to put forward planning, implementing and monitoring of various programmes for the Ganga This authority aims to bring the river back to life by involving the community and the people right from plans to monitoring.
Scientists have discovered a new microbe that would be useful to remove dye and other pollutants from a water body. This microbe (a bacteria) when tested, successfully removed 96% contaminants from the water sample. This microbe can be very useful in cleaning the water bodies especially the life line of Delhi-the River Yamuna.
- By DIVYANSHU