Suggestions to solve the problem of mother Ganga

Congratulations to Shri Narendra Modi ji for holding the chair of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India and creating separate ministerial arrangement to solve the problem of mother Ganga. However, before execution of any new program on Ganga following may be important to keep in the mind.
Continuous decrease in the flow of water during past a few years has induced fragmentation of the National River Ganga and it has imposed a serious problem to the nation and threatened the lives of 450 million people
Decrease in the velocity and quantity of Ganga water has adversely affected its dilution factor rather self purifying capacity. Hence, without any further addition in the quantity of pollutants, the intensity of Ganga water pollution has been increased
Decrease in the flow of Ganga water is the probable reason by which all efforts made by the government during past a few decades to control the pollution of river Ganga has not been visualized
Mother Ganga is suffering with the “triple R” problem i.e. Reduced ecological flow, Reduced water carrying capacity and Reduced quality i.e. Pollution of water
The problem of mother Ganga is a multi-ecosystem problem. Henceforth, only holistic approach can save the Ganga.
Aforsaid problems may be solved as:
Ganga has been declared as the National river in 2008; however, till date it is under the control of 5 states i.e. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Each state has its own regulations for the consumption and management of the river water. Henceforth, central government is not able to implement required projects for the conservation.


1.  A new regulation act is required to put the Ganga under the control of Central government.

2.  Present technologies used for the generation of hydropower in Uttarakhand is distructive at the ecosystem level and non eco-friendly.
Uttarakhand is under low pressure zone having high wind velocity. Henceforth,Wind power mills may be an option for the power generation.


3. Construction of big dams on main head streams of the Ganga is reducing the flow of Ganga water and changing its natural quality. Henceforth, a number of small dams may be constructed on the side streams and used for hydropower generation. Construction of small dams on side streams shall be eco-friendly.


4. Extraction and diversion of huge quantity of Ganga water should be minimized with the instructions to the consumers to become self sustainable. So that, in future complete ban be created on the huge extraction of water


5. Encroachment of the Ganga land on its both sides has reduced the water carrying capacity of river Ganga henceforth, encroachment of land on both the bank side be banned immediately.


6. Existing sewage treatment plants are not appropriate henceforth, all should be renovated as per requirement.


7. Imported technologies for the pollution control or wastewater treatment must be tested under Indian condition.


8. Consumers of the Ganga water be associated with different projects of the Ganga.


9. Appropriate policy be framed for the establishment of treatment plants, extraction of Ganga water and discharge of wastewater.


10. Rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging technologies be adopted immediately in different zones of the Ganga basin.


11. In order to implement the projects effectively an efficient monitoring committee consisting experts from different fields be constituted for regular trimonthly monitoring.


12. Gomukh to Bay of Bengal (2525 Km) Ganga consists of three different ecosystems with specific characters. Henceforth, detailed investigations on different eco-system components may provide better tool to conserve the Ganga.

New York Times News article on River Ganga

VARANASI, India — For centuries, Hindus have brought their dead to banks of the Ganges River in this ancient city, with the promise that if their bodies are burned on the riverfront, their souls will escape the constant cycle of rebirth and attain moksha, or salvation. Transporting their souls is the goddess of the river, whose ebbs and flows have run through thousands of years of civilization.

Now this city’s holy waters are at the center of one of the most important elections in India’s modern history as Narendra Modi, the front-runner in the race for prime minister, has made the cleanup of the sacred river a metaphor for his campaign. He says he wants to restore the river’s purity just as he will revive a nation sullied by corruption and stalled by mismanagement and bureaucratic sloth.

There was a time in living memory when the water in the river was clean enough to drink, said Shyamlal Eshad, a boatman in his 50s. Today, three hundred million liters of raw sewage mixed with industrial pollutants are dumped in the Ganges here every day, according to B.D. Tripathi, an environmental scientist and an advocate for cleaning the Ganges. The stench along the uneven cobblestone steps in parts of Varanasi is overpowering, and Mr. Eshad laments his goddess in decline.

“I feel Mother Ganga has called me to Varanasi,” Mr. Modi said to a sea of caps, masks and flags in saffron, the color of his Bharatiya Janata Party, at a rally leading up to the voting here on Monday. Results are expected Friday. “I feel like a child who has returned to his mother’s lap,” he said.

Dr. Tripathi, an environmental science professor at Banaras Hindu University and a member of a government panel studying the Ganges, said the flow of the Ganges is being blocked by dams for irrigation and electricity, limiting its ability to clean itself. Ninety-five percent of the pollution comes from the raw sewage and industrial pollutants pouring into it; the rest is half-burned flesh and religious items, he said. Officials claim they lack the money to build proper water-treatment facilities.

“We are converting a river into a pond due to our actions,” said Dr. Tripathi, blaming mismanagement for the many hundreds of millions of dollars invested in the river with little to show for it. Like many here, he believes Mr. Modi is the only candidate decisive enough to save the river.

“Modi’s approach with Varanasi, is definitely for a lot of Hindus, a call to the ancient past,” said Nilanjana S. Roy, a writer. “It’s an attempt to create a Hindu symbol and it’s a call to clean up the pollution of the culture.” 

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Challenges of River Ganga before Narendra Bhai Modi

Recently during 16^th Loaksabha Election the victory of Shri Narendra Bhai Modi has created a new history in India. Before going for nomination he told “ Maa Ganga ne mujhe bulaya hai” have shown his commitment towards mother Ganga. This was highly appreciated by the environmentalists, technocrats and the common masses because the life of 450 million people is threatened due to fragmentation of river Ganga.

Since, Modi ji has become Prime Minister of India and Chairman of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), I as an expert member of the NGRBA and pioneer scientist working on Ganga for last 42 years, would like to draw his attention towards the following challenges of river Ganga.

1.   Continuous decrease in the flow of water during past a few years has induced fragmentation of the National River Ganga and it has imposed a serious problem to the nation and threatened the lives of 450 million people.

2.    Decrease in the velocity and quantity of Ganga water has adversely affected its dilution factor rather self purifying capacity. Hence, without any further addition in the quantity of pollutants, the intensity of Ganga water pollution has been increased.

3.   Decrease in the flow of Ganga water is the probable reason by which all efforts made by the government during past a few decades to control the pollution of river Ganga has not been visualized.

4.  Mother Ganga is suffering with the “triple R” problem i.e. Reduced ecological flow, Reduced water carrying capacity and Reduced quality i.e. Pollution of water.

5. The problem of mother Ganga is the multidimensional problem, henceforth, only holistic approach can save the Ganga.

Since, mother Ganga is inseparable part of our life and its water is regarded as the most purifier of human body and soul science times immemorial, I would like to request Modi ji to keep aforesaid points in his mind before implementing any further projects to save mother Ganga. 

Prof. B.D.Tripathi, Expert Member, NGRBA, Govt. of India

MAJOR ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF RIVER GANGA

River Ganga is suffering with triple ‘R’ problems

1.     Reduced ecological flow
2.     Reduced space for water flow
3.     Reduced water quality

River Ganga may be conserved with triple ‘P’ programs

1.     Policy
2.     Planning
3.     Prevention


Details of triple ‘R’

1.     REDUCED ECOLOGICAL FLOW
Reduced flow of river water is due to creation of obstacles in the natural flow, diversion & over extraction of river water for irrigation, domestic, industrial purposes and ground water through pumps and lift canals.

2.     REDUCED SPACE FOR WATER FLOW
Reduced space for water flow is associated with the continuous decrease in water depth due to high rate of siltation induced by deforestation, river bank encroachment from both the sides and major constructions in the catchment area.

3.     REDUCED QUALITY OF WATER
Reduced quality of river water is due to pollution of water induced by discharge of city sewage, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff, cremation of dead bodies, animal bathing and washing of clothes, solid and biomedical waste disposal.

Details of triple ‘P’

1.     POLICY
Proper policy pertaining to increase in water quantity &  maintenance of ecological flow, rain water harvesting, ground water recharging, natural cleaning, extraction of water directly from the river & ground water, land use near banks, disposal of human dead body and animal carcases, water users - drinking, bathing, washing, navigation, aquaculture, plantation, cropping, irrigation, discharge of sewage and industrial effluents, pollution control technologies, land selection for STPs, major constructions in the catchment areas, people’s participation in different projects,  monitoring of projects, accountability of project leader, adoption of stack holder, biodiversity conservation, utilization of youth power (school, college and university students) and mass awareness.

2.     PLANNING
Short and long-term planning for water conservation, environmental management based on regeneration ability, socio-economic and cultural development in the Ganga Basin, establishment of specific treatment plants including community treatment facilities, adoption of eco-friendly technologies, launching of time bound projects, people’s participation, youth power (school, college and university students) utilization, mass awareness, shifting of flood irrigation system to modern irrigational practices, development of green belt of resilient plant species on river banks, recycling of waste water, rain water harvesting and ground water recharging technologies, use of solid waste materials as resource for energy production, solar energy harvesting, identification of high dilution zones of the river for discharge of waste water, establishment of Ganga Conservation Societies at ward level in the urban areas and gram sabha level in rural areas ensuring women participation, creation of Ganga Gyan Centres at University level, constitution of local technical expert committees for monitoring and assessment of Projects, encouraging non consumptive activities (fisheries, aquaculture and navigation).
3.     PREVENTION
Prevention is better than cure henceforth, GANGA CULTURE be developed in the people of Ganga Basin. All preventive steps such as creation of legislation, coordination between Central, State and Local authorities, development of new technologies and mass awareness be adopted. Dos and don’ts materials be prepared and popularise through documentary films, news papers, TV, nukkad nataks, hand bills, slide shows, seminars, symposia and workshops.