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.

Scientific Ganga Yatra

Near Hydro-power Project

Near Tehri Dam

A closer View of Tehri Dam

At Karn Prayag

View of Karn Prayag

Near KedarNath

Dry stretch of River Bhagirathi

Beautiful location of Yamunotri

River Mandakini: Peace of mind

Site View of river Alaknanda

Receding water table at Tehri Dam

Ganga at Rishikesh

Ganga at Gangotri

Special Report on Scientific Ganga Yatra in Uttarakhand

In view of the dedicated efforts of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to Save Mother Ganga and related Social Movements, Prof. B. D. Tripathi of the Banaras Hindu University, who has pioneered Ganga Pollution Researches since 1972 and also Expert Member of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), has made an intensive GANGA YATRA in Uttarakhand and field based Ecological Study during the month of May 2012. He has visited river Ganga, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Mandakini, Pindar, Dhauli Ganga, Nandakani, Sone Ganga and river Yamuna in Uttarkhand. Prof. Tripathi has travelled across the Uttarakhand and spent day and night on the bank of various rivers for seventeen days. Dr. Tripathi has also visited Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedar Nath, Deoprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnprayag, Nandprayag,Vishnuprayag,  Soneprayag, different Dams and Hydroelectric Projects etc. to study different anthropogenic activities and its impact on GANGA. The main aim of his study was to identify anthropogenically induced ecological problems of river GANGA in Uttarakhand, and suggest possible remedial measures to Hon’ble Prime Minister to overcome the problems of river GANGA and its important head streams, who are regarded as lifeline and worshiped as the mother in India. During Scientific Ganga Yatra, besides ecological investigation, Prof Tripathi has also met to the people who are dependent for their livelihood on these rivers, religious leaders, social activists, various scientific groups working on Ganga, noted environmentalists and those who were serious about the development of the Uttarakhand . He has made following important observations during his scientific Ganga Yatr

1. Large number of hydroelectric power projects have been commissioned and proposed on river Ganga and Alaknanda, such as on river Ganga 16 hydroelectric projects have been commissioned, 13 projects are under construction and 54 projects are proposed. On river Alaknanda 6 hydroelectric projects have been commissioned, 8 projects are under construction and 24 projects are proposed.  
2. Hydroelectric power projects are causing submersion of large land area which results in loss of flora and fauna. These hydro-power projects are altering natural rhythm of nature, sediment and nutrient regimes, temperature, chemical qualities of water, fresh water biodiversity and reproductive capabilities of aquatic animals. This also creates high hydraulic pressure at a given point of earth which may stimulate earth quake and landslides
3. Construction of dams causes huge destruction of mountain ecosystem including reduction in the natural flow and dilution capacity of the river resulting enhancement of the pollution level
4. The Tehari Dam has been constructed among the hills made up by the soil. This result in loss of 25-30% water of the reservoir through seepage and induce severe threat to the hills in the vicinity.
5. In Uttarakhand, natural flow of majority of rivers has been obstructed by a series of hydroelectric power projects. At many places main path of these rivers have been diverted through the tunnels and upto several km main path of the river has been dried. This has not only destroyed the flora and fauna of the river stretch but badly affected the quality of water, human life and altered the structure and functions of the natural ecosystem. 
6. The diversion of rivers has also created various socio-economic and religious problems to the local inhabitants. Their local resource based livelihood (such as agriculture, domestication of animals and religious activities) suffers significantly enhancing unemployment and poverty.
7. The blasting activities in these hilly areas are causing huge cracks in the hills, loss of biodiversity, seepage of water and increased soil erosion responsible for siltation in the rivers.
8. The observed high wind speed in the Uttarakhand due to low pressure belt creates suitable environment for the production of electricity through wind mills. The use of Wind mills may mitigate the negative impacts of the anthropogenic activities in these areas.
9. Promotion of Wind mills for generation of electricity in Uttarakhand in place of hydropower projects which require huge land area and water, shall help in maintenance of the ecological flow of the river Ganga which is currently a burning issue in India and main objective of the NGRBA.