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The Ganges River, often called the lifeline of India, isn’t just a waterway—it’s a symbol of spiritual, cultural and ecological importance. Extending over 2,500 km, it nourishes millions of people, providing water for farming, drinking and industrial use. However, pollution has turned this sacred river into a shadow of its former self. This article uncovers the need and challenges associated with the cleanup of this holy river.
Why Does Cleaning the Ganges Matter?
The Ganga is life itself for millions of people, flowing through cities like Varanasi, Allahabad and Kolkata, where it supports daily life and livelihoods, but its waters are severely polluted. Untreated sewage,industrial waste, agricultural chemicals, and even religious offerings have left the river in a miserable state. This pollution doesn’t just harm the environment; it threatens public health, spreading diseases like cholera and typhoid in communities that rely on it.
The Ganges is central to Hindu rituals, making its cleanliness a matter of cultural pride.
Polluted waters harm aquatic species, endangering the river’s ecosystem.
Economic activities such as fishing and tourism suffer due to contamination.
The Namami Gange Programme
In 2014, the Indian government launched the Namami Gange Programme, an ambitious mission to restore the river’s health. With a budget of over ₹20,000 crore ($3 billion), the plan focuses on several key areas. The first is sewage treatment. This includes building new sewage treatment plants and upgrading old ones to keep untreated waste out of the river. Industrial waste management is another focus, ensuring factories follow strict pollution controls. Riverfront development is also part of the plan, creating clean, accessible spaces along the riverbanks. Lastly, the program emphasizes protecting wildlife, particularly species like the Ganges River dolphin, which serves as a key indicator of the river’s health.
Achievements So Far
There have been noticeable improvements in water quality in certain stretches of the river, with dissolved oxygen levels (an important indicator of water health) showing positive trends. More than 150 sewage treatment plants are now operational, handling millions of liters of sewage every day. Community involvement has also grown, with public awareness campaigns inspiring people to take greater pride in the river. In terms of biodiversity, there’s been a small but encouraging increase in the population of the endangered Ganges River dolphin in some areas.
Remaining Challenges
Despite these successes, many challenges remain. One major issue is sewage overload. Existing treatment facilities are overwhelmed by the more than half of the sewage generated in the Ganges basin that still enters the river untreated. Industrial pollution also remains a significant problem, as many small industries lack the resources to install proper waste treatment facilities. Despite having a sizable budget for the cleanup, funding and implementation delays have hindered progress. Cultural practices, such as immersing religious offerings and conducting cremations along the riverbanks, add biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. The endeavor is further complicated by the logistical and bureaucratic difficulties that arise when efforts are coordinated across several states.
Future Strategies
Cleaning the Ganges is an enormous task, but it is not impossible. Modern water purification systems and real-time pollution monitoring are two examples of advanced technology that can be extremely helpful in combating pollution. Involving the community is equally vital since it can result in long-term changes by empowering and teaching locals to embrace sustainable practices. It is crucial to implement policy changes, such as tougher sanctions for polluters and funding for businesses to install effluent management systems.
Hindus believe that the Ganges can wash away the sins of those who bathe in its waters, but it’s the river itself that needs help washing away a few centuries’ worth of ecological sins. It will take determination, innovation, and cooperation to ensure that future generations can enjoy the Ganges as it was meant to be: clean, vibrant, and full of life.
Works Cited
Coroneo, J. (2023) Has the Indian government managed to clean the Ganga at last? [online] Dialogue Earth, 13 October. Available at: https://dialogue.earth/en/pollution/has-the-indian-government-managed-to-clean-the-ganga-at-last/.
Koshy, J. (2023) Seven years on, mission to clean the Ganga remains a work in progress. [online] The Hindu. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/seven-years-down-cleaning-the-ganga-remains-a-work-in-progress/article67259400.ece.
Namami Gange | Prime Minister of India (no date). [online] Available at: https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/government_tr_rec/namami-gange/.
United Nations Environment Programme (no date) Restoring India’s holiest river. [online] Available at: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/restoring-indias-holiest-river.
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