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“Water is the driver of life”, said Leonardo da Vinci. Earth is a blue saphire because of 2/3 of it is water. Water is essential for the any form of life. But the supply of pure and clean water is becoming a challenge for maintaining due to rapid population growth, industrial proliferations, urbanization and wide spheres of human activities in the days of early Aryans, the Ganga was one of several River Goddesses who were worshipped as a deity Especially for Hindus. River Gange is the most sacred and largest perennial river of India and is also as millions of Indians live along its course. For Hindus it is a divine power named goddess Ganga. It is one of the largest water drains of the world, densely populated and is critical for millions of people’s health, prosperity, and spirituality living in the northern part of India. This river passes through eleven states of India. In West Bengal it is known as Bhagirathi River. it is a spill channel of the River Ganga added and gets water from feeder channel of the Farraca Barrage.The length of the Bhagirathi-Hugli is about 520 Km up to the confluence of the Bay of Bengal.In the Bhagirathi River the flow is unidirectional but in the Hugli river the flow directional and the discharge of water vary due to tidal effect.In this lower course of the Hooghly several dynamic processes like erosion, sedimentation and hydraulic actions are activated over a long period of time. During the past few decades the health of the river Ganga has been deteriorated due to industrial and municipal waste disposal along the whole stretch of the River. In addition, various miscellaneous sources such as bathing of cattles, washing of clothes, disposal of flowers and idols etc. also pollute the River. Cumulative increase in the pollution load of River has caused loss of aquatic biodiversity. Further, the deterioration in the quality of River water had made it unsuitable for human/animal consumption and other uses such as irrigation, aqua culture. The Ganges is the most sacred river and is also as millions of Indians live along its course and fulfill their primary needs from Ganga. For Hindus it is a divine power named goddess Ganga It is one of the largest water drains of the world, densely populated and is critical for millions of people’s health, prosperity, and spirituality living in the northern part of India. River Gange is the most sacred and largest perennial river of India and is also as millions of Indians live along its course. The Ganga is the largest water drain of the world and densely populated so also critical for millions of peoples who believe in the spirituality of goddess Ganga. This river passes through eleven states of India. In West Bengal it is known as Bhagirathi River. it is a spill channel of the River Ganga added and gets water from feeder channel of the Farraka Barrage. The length of the Bhagirathi-Hugli is about 520 Km up to the confluence of the Bay of Bengal. In the Bhagirathi River the flow is unidirectional but in the Hugli river the flow directional and the discharge of water vary due to tidal effect. In this lower course of the Hooghly several dynamic processes like erosion, sedimentation and hydraulic actions are activated over a long period of time. During the past few decades the health of the river Ganga has been deteriorated due to industrial and municipal waste disposal along the whole stretch of the River. In addition, various miscellaneous sources such as bathing of cattles, washing of clothes, disposal of flowers and idols etc. also pollute the River. Cumulative increase in the pollution load of River has caused loss of aquatic biodiversity. Further, the deterioration in the quality of River water had made it unsuitable for human/animal consumption and other uses such as irrigation, aqua culture. 1. The densely populated Ganga basin is inhabited by 37 per cent of India's population. 2. The entire Ganga basin system effectively drains eight states of India. 3. About 47 per cent of the total irrigated area in India is located in the Ganga basin alone. 4. It has been a major source of navigation and communication since ancient times. 5. The Indo-Gangetic plan has witnessed the blossoming of India's great creative talent. During the past few decades the health of the river Ganga basin has been deteriorated due to industrial and municipal waste disposal along the whole stretch of the River. In addition, various miscellaneous sources such as bathing of cattles, washing of clothes, disposal of flowers and idols etc. also pollute the River. Cumulative increase in the pollution load of River has caused loss of aquatic biodiversity. Further, the deterioration in the quality of River water had made it unsuitable for human/animal consumption and other uses such as irrigation, aqua culture. This is a burning issue at present time Rejuvenation of Ganga basin Industrial effluents from leather tanneries situated at Kanpur discharged higher amount of metal especially chromium. Near about 70 % of its surface water & a certain ground water percentage are contaminated by biological, toxic, organic, and inorganic pollutants. In many cases, these sources have been rendered unsafe for human consumption as well as for other activities, such as irrigation and industrial needs to ground water and lead to contamination of chromium due to accumulation. The concentrations of cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc in the water and sediments of the Ganges river were determine by Atomic Absorption Spectra photometry in the year 1981. The respective ranges of concentrations of cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc found in the water were 0.53, 4.89, 3.20–56.6, 27.57, 22.0–133.8, 35.0–93.0, 2.22, 2.0–5.6 and 7.37–67.36 µgl−1 and in the sediments were 3.48, 2.35–14.4, 9.0–83.16, 11.27–95.0, 2168.0–11624.8, 110.5–470.0, 3.45–28.80, 0.55–21.8 and 72.0–418.6 µgg−1.. The sediments collected from different sampling stations were also analysed for pH, calcium carbonate, organic matter, potassium and phosphorus. Heavy-metal contamination is not a modern problem arising out of industrializatione it began when humans started processing ores. Since then the use of metals and their impacts on the environment have accelerated, water pollution are Zn, As, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg, Ni, and Cr. Metals like . Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn etc are required as nutrients in trace amount for life processes in plants and microorganisms but become toxic at higher concentrations.

Fisher fock who everyday depend on river of Ganga’s water for drinking are more likely to report higher incidences of diseases such as pneumonia, diarrohea, chorela, caugh /cold, fever, skin disease, typhoid and jaundice, a recent  study done on livelihood and health changeless faceded  revrine communities of ganga. [PIB/25 Aug, 2020]

 Is Ganga water  save to drink?  

The Ganga river basin (GRB) is highly vulnerable to ground water arsenic contamination . Elevated levels of As in drinking and irrigation water and in food materials are reported many pleases in this region [ 23 Jan 2018, Press information Bereau]

What is Ganga Action Plan for improving quality   of water ?

On 14 Jan 1986 , Shri Rajeev Gandhi  the then P.M. of India , launched the Ganga  action plan with the main goal of pollution abatement to improved water quality by intercepting , diverting and treating domestic sewage and present toxic and industrial chemical wastes from indentified grossly polluting units [26 jun 2023]

The data collected by the board shows that the river carries fecal coliform (Human excreta ) and industrial effluents making unsafe for consumption [13 May 2022] .The total coliform (TC) is 63 compared to safe limit of 50. Samples taken before  the start of the CherDham yatra were collected by the state pollution control board from Bhagirath Bindu to Roorkwe at  12 spots and in all the points, the pollution levels are found to be of major concern.

Where is warrying authorities further is that the river is likely to get polluted even more during the cher Dham  yatra  due to the huge influx of pilgrims  and ineffective  solid waste management in the hills. Most of the waste is being directly dumped into the river  or burnt around the riverside .

Mean while , in some consolation, water samples showed improved presence of dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen which are good for aqatic beings .Water in Har-Ki-Puri stretch showed a good amount of D.O. and B.O.D of 3gm per litter and 1.5-2.5 mg per litter respectively.

Speaking to TOI ,SP Subudhi, member secretary, Uttarakhand  Pollution  Control Board claimed  that ‘ till Risikesh the overall water quality is A and in Haridwar also the D.O. and B.O.D. is in A category even now.’

In attempting to assess the water quality of lowers stretch flowing through West Bengal, 11 parameters at 10 locations from Beharampur to Diamond Harbour over nine years (2011–2019) were considered.

Figuare 1: Sugar mill contaminates river

The eastern stretch of Ganga showed a variation of Water Quality Index (WQI) from 55 to 416 and Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI) from 0.59 to 3.68 in nine years. The map interpolated through GIS revealed that the entire river stretch in the year 2011, 2012, and 2019 and location near to ocean during the entire period of nine years were severely polluted (WQI > 100 or SPI > 1). Turbidity and boron concentration mainly contribute to the high scores of indices. Further, the origin of these ions was estimated through multivariate statistical techniques. The occurrence of boron was attributed to seawater and that to fluoride to anthropogenic sources.Based on the research, a few possible water treatment mechanisms are suggested to render the water fit for drinking. Thus the water quality  of river Ganga was marked as polluted and unfit for drinking . Because of geogenic and anthropogenic activities water treatment technologies were suggested to render the water fit for drinking.

Figure 2: Flow of Ganga across the region

Major sources of pollution in river Ganga:

1. Pollution due to Domestic Sewage

2. Pollution due to Industrial Sewage

3. Pollution due to Religious Issues

4. Pollution due to Agricultural wastes

5. Environmental and other reasons

                                    

Figure 3: Tehri dam over Ganga

Ganga has been a symbol of purity but today it is grossly polluted, that is in utter disregard to its sanctity. About 11, 5000 tons of fertilizers one wasted away with agriculture waste water in to Ganga River. It includes 88, 6000 tons of nitrogen, 17, 000 tons of phosphorus, and 92, 00 tons of potassium (Dec.2000). River Ganga receives untreated domestic sewage and industrial effluents at various points. The Ganga is a major river in Indian subcontinent and covers a total length about 2525 km

For water analysis and assessment regarding the suitability of water for human consumption and other domestic purposes, specialized sampling and sample handling procedures are required. The water samples were analyzed for various parameters in the laboratory of Botany Department, University of Allahabad. Various physico-chemical parameters like Temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Hardness, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Chloride, Total Alkalinity, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Sulphate, Phosphate and Nitrate have been monitored for river water. In general, the standard methods recommended by APHA were adopted for determination of various physico-chemical parameters. A brief description is given below. Physicochemical parameters like Temperature, pH and Electrical Conductivity (EC) were measured using water analysis kit . Rest parameter were analyzed chemically in the laboratory according to the method . The procedures of their determination is mentioned below:

Water Quality Assessment in West Bengal:

The water quality of river Ganga (named Hoogly in this stretch) with respect to DO, BOD, Faecal Coliform, Total Coliform and conductivity in the stretch of West Bengal from Baharampur to Diamond Harbour for the year 2011.

1. pH - meeting the water quality criteria. for bathing at all the monitoring locations. 

2. Conductivity meeting the primary water quality criteria based on designated best use at all locations except Diamond harbour due to sea water intrusion. Highest Conductivity here observed is 10240 µmhos/cm.

3. DO varies from 4.3-13.4 mg/l and not meeting the water quality criteria notified for bathing at Tribeni, Howrah-Shivpur, Garden Reach and Uluberia.

4. BOD ranges from 0.3-8.2 mg/l and not meeting the water quality criteria notified for bathing at most of the monitoring locations except Tribeni and Palta.

5. Faecal coliform value ranges from 700-11,00,000 MPN/100ml. Faecal coliform is observedØ higher than the criteria at all monitoring locations.

Total Coliform value ranges 900- 25,00,000 not meeting the based on designated best use forØ category ‘C’ atall monitored locations

Spatial and Temporal trend of water quality in West Bengal stretch:

The trend of BOD, DO, Faecal coliform at various locations of West Bengal is presented in Figures 5 to 7

1. It is observed that average value of DO complies with the standards for the period of 2006-2011 at all locations.

2.  An increasing trend of BOD is observed at Serampore, Dakshineshwar, Howrah-Shivpur, Uluberia and Diamond Harbour. Average value of of BOD is observed high thanth criteria at Dakshineshwar, Howrah-Shivpur, Garden Reach, Uluberia, Palta and Diamond Harbour. 

3. Faecal Coliform and total coliform is not meeting the desired criteria at all monitoring locations. A fluctuating trend is observed in FC.

4.  In overall analysis, the River Ganga is polluted with respect to organic and coliform pollution the stretch of West Bengal at most of the monitoring locations.

 

                    Figure 5: Water Quality of River Ganga (West Bengal Segment) 

                Figure-6: Water Quality of River Ganga (West Bengal Segment)

                Figure-7: Water Quality of River Ganga (West Bengal Segment)

Past and future actions plans for Ganga cleaning:

A number of initiatives have been undertaken to clean the river but failed to deliver desired results. In view of the magnitude of water quality problems in the Ganga basin, two actions plans were launched by the Government of India: the Ganga action plan. 

Ganga Action Plan

The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched in April 1986 main thrust areas i.e., (i) interception and diversion of sewage generated in the town, (ii) establishment of domestic/municipal wastewater treatment systems, (iii) construction of electric rematerial, improved wood Crematoria and low cost community toilets near the river banks, (iv) improvement of bathing ghats, (v) affore station of river banks and (vi) to serve as a model to demonstrate the methodology of improving the water quality of the other polluted rivers and water bodies of the country to their designated best use class. The pollution load dumped in the river by human ivnterference is a serious health hazard to the dense population of the basin. Under the GAP, the Government of India started the planning and execution of several programs to check the pollution of the river Ganga from Rishikesh to Diamond Harbour and its tributaries. Attempts have also been made to build a number of waste treatment facilities and to collaborate with a number of voluntary organizations. Pollution abatement works for the Ganga River had been taken up in 25 class I towns (population exceeding one lakh) along the main Ganga River under the three basin States of U.P., Bihar, and West Bengal. 

National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA)

National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA) was established by the Government of India, on 20 February 2009 under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It also declared Ganges as the "National River" of India. The chair includes the Prime Minister of India and Chief ministers of states through which the Ganges flows. (Rai 2013) 

2010 Government cleanup campaign

In 2010, it was announced that "the Indian government has embarked on a $4 billion campaign to ensure that by 2020 no untreated municipal sewage or industrial runoff enters the 1,560-mile river." A World Bank spokesman described the plan in 2011, saying Earlier efforts to clean the Ganga concentrated on a few highly polluting towns and centers and addressed 'end-of-the-pipe' wastewater treatment there; Mission Clean Ganga builds on lessons from the past, and will look at the entire Gangetic basin while planning and prioritizing investment instead of the earlier town-centric approach. In 2010 itself, the government declared the stretch of river between GaumukhandUttarkashian "eco-sensitive zone".

Namami Ganga Project

Namami Ganga project was announced by the Government of India in July 2014 budget. Ganga Manthan, a national dialogue on river Ganga, organized on July 07, 2014 at New Delhi marked the beginning of a national level stakeholder interaction on the challenges, issues and possible solutions to achieve the ambitious objectiveof  ‘Ganga Rejuvenation’. In the budget tabled in Parliament on July 10, 2014, Union Finance Minister announced an integrated Ganga development project titled Namami Ganga and allocated 2,037 crore for this purpose. As a part of the program, government of India ordered the shut down of 48 industrial units around Ganga (MOWR 2014).

 Figuare 4 : Condition of near Ganga after and before rejuvenation

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Drinking water quality assessment of river Ganga in West Bengal, India through integrated statistical and GIS techniques ,Syed Yakub Ali, Sangeeta Sunar, Priti Saha, Suvankar Dutta, Water Science & Technology Vol 00 No 0, 1 doi: 10.2166/wst.2021