Conference on Ganga Rejuvenation & Awareness

Ganga Rejuvenation & Awareness Programme:

·    A conference on Ganga Rejuvenation & Awareness was organised in the Banaras Hindu University a joint collaboration Indo Tibbetian Border Police (ITBP) on 3rd Nov. 2015.

·      Sri Raja Babu, IG, IPS, ITBP was the Chief Guest and Prof. B.D. Tripathi, Founder Expert Member of National Ganga River Basin Authority Govt. of India & Chairman(WG) MRCGRDWRM, has chaired the function.

·       During the conference Prof. B.D. Tripathi has shared his 45 years of research experience on Ganga and informed the house about recent issues & challenges of the Ganga.

·    Prof. Rana P.B. Singh, HOD Dept of Geography & Prof. U.K. Chaudhary, Ex-HOD, Dept of Civil Engg. IIT-BHU have raised social, religious & technical issue of the Ganga.     

·  The conference was participated by Mr. Puneet Rastogi, IPS, IG, ITBP, Mr. Naveen Arora, IPS, DIG, ITBP, Mr. S.R. Rai IPS, ITBP, Mr. Surendra Khatri, ITBP alongwith other members of ITBP, Teacher, Students and people from different sectors of the society including representatives of Electronic & Print media.

Professor B.D. Tripathi Honored by Hon'ble Home Minister Sri Rajnath Singh on occasion of "Vidwad Alankaran Samaroh of Akhil Bhartiya Vidwat Parishad"

An eminent environmentalist and river expert Prof. B.D. Tripathi of the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi was honored by Hon'ble Home Minister Sri Rajnath Singh on occasion of "Vidwad Alankaran Samaroh of Akhil Bhartiya Vidwat Parishad" on 1st November 2015 in Varanasi. 

Prof. B.D. Tripathi pioneered Ganga water pollution researches in 1972 & recognised as the founder expert member of the National Ganga River Basin Authority, Govt. of India constituted under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Prime Minister. He is also the recipient of   Ganga Bhakt Puraskar (2007) by Society for Science & Technology, Allahabad University, Kashi Gaurav Puraskar (2005) by SAAR Sansthan, Bhagirath Puraskar (1999) by Ganga Sewa Samiti, Paryavaran Mitra Puraskar (1991), SNTM foundation by Hon’ble President of India. Recently, the National Book Trust of India (NBT), has decided to publish the Auto Biography of Prof. B.D.Tripathi in the name of "SWARTH SE PARMARTH TAK: EK PARYAVARAN VAIGYANIK KI ATMA KATHA".

Workshop on Murti Bisrajan & Ganga Pollution in Varanasi City

xaxkty iznw"k.k ,oa ewfrZ foltZu ij /kkfeZd] lkekftd] vkfFkZd ,oa oSKkfud eaFku gsrq dk;Z'kkyk

fnukad% 5&10&15] le; % 2 cts vijkg~u

LFkku% ,u,Dlh fcfYMax daÝsal gky ¼,yMh xsLVgkml½ dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky;] okjk.klh

v/;{k

izks- ch- Mh- f=ikBh

laLFkkid fo'ks"kK lnL; % jk"Vªh; xaxk unh csflu izkf/kdj.k] Hkkjr ljdkj

ps;jeSu (WG): xaxk] unh fodkl ,oa ty lalk/ku izcU/ku ekyoh; 'kks/k dsUnz] dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky;

eq[; oDrk

MkW- dkes'oj mik/;k;] izks- pUnzekSyh mik/;k;] izks- t;'kadj yky f=ikBh] izks- deyk ik.Ms;]
izks- ,-ds- tks'kh] izks- jes'kpUnz] izks- nsosUnz eksgu] Mk- ,l-ds- frokjh] Mk- ukxsUnz izlkn f}osnh]
MkW- vkj-ts- fo'odekZ] dWfjvj xq: jfoUnz lgk;] MkW- xhrk 'kekZ] MkW- jfodqekj ,oa lh- 'ks[kj

izLrkouk

xaxk xkseq[k ls fudydj 2525 fdeh- dh ;k=k djrs gq;s xaxklkxj ds ikl leqnz ls feyrh gSA bl ;k=k ds nkSjku ;g rhu cM+s ikfjfLFkfrdh ra=ksa ¼fgeky;] eSnkuh Hkkx] ,oa MsYVk½ dk fuekZ.k djrh gSA lHkh ikfjfLFkfrdh ra=ksa dh viuh vyx&vyx leL;k;sa ,oa mlh ds vuq:i mldk lek/kku Hkh gSA vkt ls djhc 45 o"kksZa iwoZ dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; esa fd;s x;s 'kks/k ls irk pyk fd xaxk dk ikuh iznwf"kr gks jgk gSA /khjs&/khjs xaxk iznw"k.k fu;a=.k dk dk;ZØe lkekftd :i ysus yxk rFkk lekt ds gj oxZ us eka xaxk ds iznw"k.k dks fu;af=r djus gsrq viuh&viuh igy dhA blh Øe esa ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; us Hkh dqN vkns'kksa dks ikfjr fd;k ftlds rgr xaxk dks iznw"k.k ls eqDr djuk FkkA mUgha vkns'kksa esa ,d vkns'k ;g Hkh Fkk fd xaxk esa ewfrZ;ksa dk folZtu u fd;k tk;A pwafd xaxk esa ewfrZ folZtu lekt ds vkLFkk ls tqM+k gqvk dk;ZØe Fkk ftlls cgqr ls yksxksa dks dfBukbZ eglwl gksus yxh vkSj yksx lM+dksa ij mrj vk;saA bruk gh ugha mu lar lekt dks Hkh vlarqf"V gqbZ ftUgksaus xaxkty iznw"k.k fu;a=.k gsrq o"kkZsa rd vkUnksyu pyk;kA

xaxkty iznw"k.k dh oSKkfud iqf"V dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; ds vUrxZr fd;s x;s 'kks/k ls gh gqvk Fkk vr% xaxkty iznw"k.k fu;a=.k ,oa ewfrZ folZtu ls mits fookn ds lek/kku gsrq ;g vko';d gks x;k fd xaxkty iznw"k.k ,oa ewfrZfolZtu ls tqM+s lHkh /kkfeZd] lkekftd] vkfFkZd ,oa oSKkfud igyqvksa ij xaHkhj :i ls fo"k;&fo'ks"kKksa }kjk eaFku fd;k tk;s vkSj loZlEefr ls fy;s x;s fu.kZ;ksa ls yksxksa dks tkx:d fd;k tk;A vr% dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; ds xaxk] unh fodkl ,oa ty lalk/ku izcU/ku ekyoh; 'kks/k dsUnz us *xaxkty iznw"k.k ,oa ewfrZfoltZu ij /kkfeZd] lkekftd] vkfFkZd ,oa oSKkfud eaFku* fo"k; ij fnukad 5 vDVwcj 2015 dks ,d fnolh; dk;Z'kkyk dk vk;kstu fd;kA

dk;Z'kkyk dh v/;{krk fo'ofo|ky; ds izeq[k i;kZoj.k oSKkfud ,oa jk"Vªh; xaxk unh csflu izkf/kdj.k ds laLFkkid fo'ks"kK lnL; izks- ch-Mh- f=ikBh us fd;kA

izeq[k fu.kZ;

dk;Z'kkyk esa fofHkUu oDrkvksa }kjk xaxkty iznw"k.k ,oa ewfrZfoltZu ds /kkfeZd] lkekftd] vkfFkZd ,oa oSKkfud igyqvksa ij xgu fopkj foe'kZ ds ckn fuEu fcUnqvksa ij lgefr iznku dh x;hA

1-    IykLVj vkQ isfjl] IykfLVd vFkok csDM&Dys ls cuh rFkk jklk;fud jaxksa ls jaxh gqbZ ewfrZ;ksa dk foltZu xaxk esa u fd;k tk;A

2-    iznw"k.k fu;a=.k gsrq vke yksxksa dks tkx:d fd;k tk;A

3-    iz'kklfud ,oa /kkfeZd yksxksa dh fofHkUu {ks=ksa ds fo"k; fo'ks"kKksa ds lkFk ,d xks"Bh djds leL;k dk loZekU; gy fudkyk tk;A

4-    bdks&ÝsUMyh ewfrZ;ksa dks cukus gsrq ewfrZdkjksa dks izksRlkfgr fd;k tk; rFkk iwtk lfefr;ksa ds lgefr ls ewfrZ;ksa dk vkdkj NksVk ,oa la[;k de fd;k tk;A

5-    bdks&ÝsUMyh ewfrZ;ksa dks xaxk dh feV~Vh ls cuk;k tk;s ftlds fuekZ.k gsrq ewfrZdkjksa dks dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; }kjk fu%'kqYd izf'k{k.k iznku fd;k tk;sxkA

6-    bdks&ÝsUMyh ewfrZ;ksa dks xaxk ds ml /kkjk esa izokfgr fd;k tk;s tgka ikuh dk cgko lokZf/kd gksA

dk;Z'kkyk eaFku

1-           izks- ch-Mh- f=ikBh ¼v/;{k½ % dk;Z'kkyk esa fo"k; izorZu djrs gq;s izks- ch-Mh- f=ikBh us dgk fd xaxkty iznw"k.k dh tkudkjh lcls igys 1972 esa dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; esa fd;s x;s 'kks/k ifj.kkeksa ls yksxksa dks gqbZA xaxkty iznw"k.k fu;a=.k gsrq lekt ds lHkh oxksZa ,oa iz'kklfud Lrj ij cgqr ls iz;kl fd;s x;sA ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; }kjk Hkh eka xaxk ds iznw"k.k fu;a=.k gsrq dbZ vkns'k ikfjr fd;s x;sA bUgha vkns'kksa esa ,d vkns'k ;g Hkh Fkk fd xaxk ,oa mldh lgk;d ufn;ksa esa ewfrZ;ksa dk foltZu u fd;k tk;sA ekuuh; U;k;ky; }kjk ;g Hkh vknsf'kr fd;k x;k Fkk fd ewfrZ;ksa ds foltZu gsrq /kkfeZd ,oa lkekftd yksxksa dks tkx:d djds mudh lgefr ls oSdfYid O;oLFkk dh tk;A nqHkkZX;o'k ,slk u gks ldk vkSj fLFkfr dqN vlkekU; gks x;hA izks- f=ikBh us dgk fd bdks&ÝsUMyh ewfrZ;ksa dks xaxk dh feV~Vh ls cuk;k tk;s ftlds fuekZ.k gsrq ewfrZdkjksa dks dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; }kjk fu%'kqYd izf'k{k.k iznku fd;k tk;sxkA lkFk gh lkFk bdks&ÝsUMyh ewfrZ;ksa dks xaxk ds ml /kkjk esa izokfgr fd;k tk;s tgka ikuh dk cgko lokZf/kd gksA mUgksaus ;g Hkh dgk fd vko'drk iM+us ij xaxk iznw"k.k fu;a=.k ls lEcfU/kr lHkh fo"k;ksa ij rduhdh lykg vke turk ,oa ekuuh; U;k;ky;ksa dks Hkh fn;k tk;sxkA

2-           izks- pUnzekSfy mik/;k; % jk"Vªh; [;kfrizkIr T;ksfr"k fo'ks"kK izks- pUnzekSfy mik/;k; us dgk fd ewfrZ foltZu gsrq oSdfYi O;oLFkk ds :i esa dk'kh ds /kkfeZd dq.Mksa ,oa rkykcksa dk iz;ksx fdlh Hkh Lrj ij u fd;k tk;s D;ksafd ftu ewfrZ;ksa ls xaxk dk cgrk gqvk ikuh iznwf"kr gks ldrk gS muls rkykcksa dk fLFkj ty dbZ xquk iznwf"kr gks tk;sxkA mUgksaus ;g Hkh dgk fd iznw"k.k fu;a=.k gsrq vke yksxksa dks tkx:d djuk furkUr vko';d gSA

3-           MkW- dkes'oj mik/;k;% dk'kh fo}r ifj"kn ls tqM+s ofj"B fo}ku vkpk;Z dkes'oj mik/;k; us dgk fd 'kkL= esa ewfrZ;ksa dks cukus gsrq muds vkdkj ds fy;s fn'kk funsZ'k fn;s x;s gSa mUgksaus dgk fd gekjs /keZ'kkL= esa fdlh Hkh unh ds izokg dks jksduk mls dRy djus tSls iki dk Hkkxh cukrk gSA xaxk gekjh vkLFkk gh ugha cfYd thou ls tqM+s gj iz'u dk mRrj gS vkSj ;fn xaxk iznwf"kr gqbZ ;k ugha jgh rks gekjk thou vukFkksa tSlk gks tk;sxkA

4-           izks- t;'kadj yky f=ikBh % dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; ls vodk'k izkIr dk'kh fo}r ifj"kn ls tqM+s izfl) /keZ'kkL=h izks- t;'kadj yky f=ikBh us dgk fd ewfrZ;ksa dks izkd`frd feV~Vh ,oa izkd`frd jaxksa ds lekos'k ls cuk;h tk;s ftlls muds foltZu ij ikuh esa os ?kqy tk;s vkSj fdlh izdkj dk iznw"k.k u djsaA mUgksaus ;g Hkh dgk fd vkt dh dk;Z'kkyk cgqr gh lkekf;d ,oa egRoiw.kZ gS rFkk ;gka fy;s x;s fu.kZ;ksa ls vke tu ekul dks ifjfpr djkuk gksxkA

5-           MkW ukxsUnz izlkn f}osnh % o:.kk unh ds iznw"k.k ij 'kks/k dj pqds oSKkfud ,oa izeq[k lektlsoh MkW- ukxsUnz izlkn f}osnh us dgk fd bdks&ÝsUMyh ewfrZ;ksa dks cukus gsrq ewfrZdkjksa dks izksRlkfgr fd;k tk; rFkk iwtk lfefr;ksa ds lgefr ls ewfrZ;ksa dk vkdkj NksVk ,oa la[;k de fd;k tk;A

6-           MkW ,l-ds- frokjh % dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; ds ,dsMfed LVkQ dkyst ls tqM+s HkwxHkZ oSKkfud MkW- ,l-ds- frokjh us dgk fd ufn;ksa dk iznw"k.k ,d xaHkhj leL;k gS rFkk blls Hkwty Hkh iznwf"kr gksrk gSA MkW- frokjh us dgk vkt /kjrh ds lcls Åijh ijr dk {kj.k cgqr rsth ls gks jgk gS ftldk [kkfe;ktk vkxs vkus okyh ihf<+;ksa dks Hkqxruk iM+sxkA

7-           izks- nsosUnz eksgu % dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; ds izkS|ksfxdh laLFkku ds flfoy baftfu;fjax foHkkx ds foHkkxk/;{k izks- nsosUnz eksgu us xaxk ds izfr viuh xgjh vkLFkk izdV djrs gq;s dgk fd gesa xaxk dks iznw"k.k eqDr djus ds fy, viuh lksp dks deZ dk :i Hkh nsuk iM+sxkA vkSj mUgksaus us ;g Hkh dgk fd IykLVj vkQ isfjl] IykfLVd vFkok csDM&Dys ls cuh rFkk jklk;fud jaxksa ls jaxh gqbZ ewfrZ;ksa dk foltZu xaxk esa u fd;k tk; rFkk ewfrZ;ksa dks xaxk dh gh feV~Vh ls cuk;k tk;s ftuds foltZu ds ckn og iqu% xaxk esa gh foyhu gks tk;sA

8-           izks- deyk ik.Ms; % ^j{kr xaxs egkdkO;* dh jpf;rk ,oa fiNys djhc 25 o"kksZa ls xaxk iznw"k.k fu;a=.k gsrq dk;Zjr izeq[k lektlsoh izks- deyk ik.Ms; us orZeku fLFkfr;ksa ij xgjk nq%[k O;Dr djrs gq;s Lojfpr dfork ikB dj xaxk ds izfr viuh laosnuk izdV dh vkSj dgk fd gj laHko dher ij iznw"kdksa dk xaxk esa fuLrkj.k cUn fd;k tkuk pkfg;s vkSj jklk;fud jaxksa ls jaxh gqbZ fdlh Hkh ewfrZ dk foltZu xaxk esa ugh fd;k tkuk pkfg,A

9-           izks- ,-ds- tks'kh % dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; ds lekt'kkL= foHkkx ds izeq[k lekt'kkL=h izks- ,-ds- tks'kh us iwoZ esa xaxk iznw"k.k fu;a=.k gsrq vius }kjk fd;s x;s iz;klksa ,oa ifj;kstukvksa dh ppkZ djrs gq;s dgk fd vkt xaxk esa ey&ty ,oa dkj[kkuksa ls fudys gq;s jklk;fud inkFkksZa ds fuLrkj.k ls lokZf/kd iznw"k.k gks jgk gSA pwafd IykLVj vkQ isfjl] IykfLVd vFkok csDM&Dys ls cuh rFkk jklk;fud jaxksa ls jaxh gqbZ ewfrZ;ksa ds foltZu ls Hkh xaxk esa iznw"k.k gksrk gS blfy;s bls vge dk eqn~nk u cuk dj ,d lkFk cSBdj loZekU; lek/kku fudkyus dk iz;kl fd;k tkuk pkfg;sA mUgksaus dgk fd ;fn iznw"k.k fu;a=.k gsrq cuk;s x;s fu;eksa dk ikyu ljdkj ,oa lkekftd O;fDr;ksa }kjk fd;k tk;s rks xaxk dks iznw"k.k ls eqDr fd;k tk ldrk gSA mUgksus ;g Hkh dgk fd iz'kklfud ,oa /kkfeZd yksxksa dh fofHkUu {ks=ksa ds fo"k; fo'ks"kKksa ds lkFk ,d xks"Bh djds leL;k dk loZekU; gy fudkyk tk ldrk gSA

10-         izks- jes'kpUnz% dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; ds d`f"k foKku laLFkku ds ofj"B d`f"k oSKkfud izks- jes'kpUnz us dgk fd ljdkj xaxk dks flQZ unh ekurh gS vkSj mlds ikl xaxk laj{k.k ds fy;s Bksl ;kstukvksa dks cukus gsrq vko';d vkadM+s miyC/k ugha gS vkSj ;gh mudh vlQyrk dk izeq[k dkj.k gSA vkt xaxk ij 'kks/k dh vko';drk gS ftlls ;kstukvksa dks cukus gsrq fo'oluh; vkadM+ksa dks izLrqr fd;k tkldsA mUgksaus bl vko';drk ij cy fn;k fd xaxk ds izfr cPpksa esa laLdkj Mkyus gsrq mUgsa f'kf{kr djuk iM+sxk rFkk blds fy;s fMftVy fljht dk fuekZ.k djuk gksxkA gesa bZekunkjh ls blds iz;kl djus gksaxs rHkh xaxk dks lajf{kr fd;k tk ldsxkA

11-         dWfjvj xq: jfoUnz lgk;% 'kgj ds izfl) dWfjvj dkmalyj Jh jfoUnz lgk; us dgk fd xaxk iznw"k.k fu;a=.k ds fofHkUu igyqvksa ij yksxksa ds fopkj lqudj geus fu.kZ; fy;k gS fd ;qokoxZ ,oa cPpksa esa xaxk ds izfr tkx:drk iSnk djus gsrq eSa yksxksa ds lg;ksx ls *fMftVy fljht* dk fuekZ.k d:axkA mUgksaus ;g Hkh dgk fd bl fo"k; dks izkFkfed Lrj ls gh f'k{kk ds ikB~;Øe esa i<+k;k tkuk pkfg,A

12-         MkW vkj-ts- fo'odekZ % dk'kh fgUnw fo'ofo|ky; ds fpfdRlk foKku laLFkku ds MkW vkj-ts- fo'odekZ us dgk fd ftl rjg ls Hkkjr ljdkj us iksfy;ks mUewyu vfHk;ku dk dk;ZØe pyk;k Fkk mlh rjg ls xaxk iznw"k.k fu;a=.k dk vfHk;ku pykuk iM+sxk rc tkdj lQyrk feysxhA

13-         MkW xhrk 'kekZ % izeq[k lekt lsoh ,oa f'k{kkfon~ MkW xhrk 'kekZ us vius mn~xkj izdV djrs gq;s dgk ge yksx cpiu esa Luku djrs le; gjgj xaxs dg dj dkslksa nwj ls xaxk esa Luku djus dk vuqHko djrs FksA vkt yksxksa esa xaxk ds izfr yxko esa deh vk;h gS ;gh dkj.k gS fd xaxk dk iznw"k.k ugha :d jgk gSA mUgksaus izkFkfed Lrj ij cPpksa esa i;kZoj.k f'k{kk dks laLdkj ds :i esa Mkyus ij cy fn;kA

14-       MkW jfo dqekj % % izeq[k lekt lsoh ,oa f'k{kkfon~ MkW- jfo dqekj us dgk fd Hkkjr dk lafo/kku yksdra= ij vk/kkfjr gS vr% tcrd yksxksa esa xaxk ds izfr tkx:drk ugha iSnk gksxh rcrd xaxk dh leL;k dk lek/kku ugha fudkyk tk ldrk gSA

15-       lh 'ks[kj % % izeq[k lekt ,oa xaxk ls n'kdksa ls tqM+s xaxklsoh lh- 'ks[kj us dgk fd vke yksxksa dks tkx:d fd;s fcuk xaxk dks lajf{kr ugha fd;k tkldrk gSA blesa ;qokoxZ dh lgHkkfxrk cgqr egRoiw.kZ gSA mUgksaus bl ckr ij cy fn;k fd xaxk ls tqM+s lHkh leL;kvksa ds lek/kku gsrq lks'ky ehfM;k ,oa vk/kqfud fMftVy rduhdh dk Hkh iz;ksx fd;k tkuk pkfg;sA

       dk;Z'kkyk esa ;qokoxZ] Nk=&Nk=kvksa ,oa izeq[k lektlsfo;ksa dh Hkh Hkkxhnkjh jghA
dk;Z'kkyk dk lekiu vk;s gq;s vfrfFk;ksa ds /kU;okn Kkiu ds lkFk gqvkA

Successful completion of PM's dream project 'Namami Ganga' needs extensive researches and ecological database

1. Ganga has exclusive antibacterial & medicinal properties due to presence of specific minerals, bacteriophages, medicinal plant extracts, higher concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) and traces of radioactive materials etc. However, it is not known to us that what are the sources of these specific components and their percentage for making the Ganga water unique and special ?
2. During past a few decades, the continuous decrease in the flow of Ganga water has fragmented the river, reduced its dilution & self purifying capacity and imposed serious threat to its ecosystem. But, what are the factors and up to what extent responsible for reduced water flow in Ganga is not known ?
3. Discharge of city sewage, industrial effluents and solid waste disposal have polluted the Ganga water. But, accurate quantity and quality of pollutants released from different areas of the cities located along the bank of river Ganga are still unexplored ?
4. Continuous decrease in water depth due to high rate of siltation and encroachment of Ganga land from both the bank sides have reduced the water flow path (Bhagirath path) leading reduced water carrying capacity of Ganga. However, it is not known till date that, what is the rate of siltation, percentage of encroachment and reduction in the water carrying capacity of the Ganga ?
5. Gangajal travels through Bhagirath path of 2525 km before meeting the sea at Gangasagar, a sacred and religious place of the Hindus. But, in recent years it is not known that what is the distance travelled by original Ganga water released from Gomukh ?

The sacred and the profane- The Hindu

The Hindu link

In the sacred city of Varanasi, where pilgrims come in search of redemption for their loved ones, offering their ashes to the river after they die, devotees struggle to admit that the river they worship as their mother is polluted indeed. “Ye pavitra Ganga maiyya hai. Iske jal se aatma ko mukti milti hai” (She is the holy Mother Ganga. Her waters bring you salvation) is the steady line uttered by believers who come here for a ‘divine’ dip.

A strange dichotomy exists between their respect for the river and their willingness to pollute it all the same. During an early morning boat ride on the Ganga, I came across people lathering themselves with soap for a ritual bath right where half-burnt carcasses could be seen floating! Two ghats — Manikarnika and Harishchandra — are into the business of burning and disposing off bodies round-the-clock. Hindu religious beliefs and rituals surrounding death and other ceremonies are central to the legitimisation of practices that encourage such pollution. At Harishchandra Ghat, which receives up to 200 bodies every day for cremation, an electrical crematorium set up by the local municipal body lies mostly unused. A helper at the crematorium from the Dom community, which traditionally tends to the pyres, says that people prefer using the electrical service only during the rain when the wood used for burning the dead gets damp.

There was a point in time when people justified disposing the dead into the river saying it served as food for the aquatic animals in it. In Varanasi, turtles were bred and released into the river to help break down the wastes.

However, B.D. Tripathy, head of the Centre for Environmental Sciences and Technology at the Benares Hindu University, says that this has not served the purpose, with the river’s self-purifying capacity dwindling over the years. Construction of big dams for hydroelectric projects, diversion of river water to supply water to various cities, including Delhi, water-intensive irrigation practices for agriculture by the river banks, and encroachments on the banks in cities like Patna and Allahabad have all constricted the free flow of the river, vital for flushing all the waste dumped into it.

In order to break down all the organic waste dumped into the river, the water needs high levels of oxygen. But the release of raw untreated sewage into the river has further reduced its capacity for self-purification, Tripathy says.

Various studies have shown that the river’s capacity to break down organic matter, measured by Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) has reduced considerably. While in a water body fit for bathing BOD must not exceed 3 mg/litre of water; in the nine major religious bathing ghats of Varanasi, BOD ranges from 4.8 mg to 62 mg/lt.

Given these concerns, the central government is now contemplating a strict law to penalise those throwing any form of waste into the river. Mohale says ‘Jal Police’ and CCTV cameras would be placed on the ghats to monitor polluting practices, and heavy fines would be imposed on violators, including those who use soap for bathing. But for a holy city that thrives on the prospect of sending the deceased to heaven, will penalising the polluters for such practices be feasible? That is the question.

Saving the Ganges River Is Saving Humanity: The Huffington Post

Click here for the article

By Cameron Conaway

Modi is the first Prime Minister of India who has shown his dedication for mother Ganga and created a separate ministry for its rejuvenation said Prof. B.D. Tripathi,  who is considered a pioneer in the field of Ganges River pollution research, and working on the cause for nearly 45 years.

 'I hope Modi ji will succeed in his efforts because over 450 million people rely on the Ganga. Saving the Ganga is the saving of humanity.' Professor B.D. Tripathi of Banaras Hindu University is one person filled with such hope. 

Murray-Darling basin model to be cornerstone of Ganga rejuvenation- Times of India

Prof. B D Tripathi with Australian High commissioner  Mr. Patrick Suckling

VARANASI: Australian high commissioner to India Patrick Suckling devoted his major time for the Ganga on the first day of his visit to the city on Sunday to understand the miseries of the holy river and explore possible solution of the existing problems. 

To discuss various issues related to the Ganga and its pollution he met  Prof BD Tripathi, noted environment scientist at Banaras Hindu University and expert member of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). 

"During discussion the Australian High Commissioner tried to understand whether and to what extent the model of Australia's Murray-Darling Basin Plan could be implemented for the Ganga in India,".
Suckling met Tripathi at Assi Ghat and held a detailed discussion on the Ganga. "Suckling showed his interest on sanitation, water management and Ganga rejuvenation," Tripathi told TOI adding that he also gave emphasis on people's participation in Ganga rejuvenation and water management. "He tried to understand how technical model of Australia could be tested and implemented in Indian environment," he said adding that he (Tripathi) also gave a brief account of Ganga's pollution in Varanasi and existing pollution abatement activities. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in November last had made a joint statement for collaboration on rejuvenating the Ganga River.