It declared the Ganges as the "National River" of India. The aim is to clean the Ganges and its tributaries in a comprehensive manner. Under the project, 8 states are covered. Around 97 towns and cities located on the banks of Ganga discharge over 3.2 billion litres of untreated sewage into the river daily. Urban Development (UD), Drinking Water & Sanitation (DWS), Environment Forests & Climate Change (EF&CC) etc., will be undertaken in addition. Activities such as Ghat redevelopment and Research and Development and innovative projects. [38] In 2011, the World Bank approved $1 billion in funding for the National Ganges River Basin Authority. 20,000 crore for the next five years. Control of non-point from , human defecation, cattle wallowing, and the disposal of human remains in the river. In the budget tabled in Parliament on 10 July 2014, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced an integrated Ganges development project titled 'Namami Gange' (meaning 'Obeisance to the Ganges river') and allocated ₹2,037 crore for this purpose. Bangladesh is actively considering to construct Ganges Barrage Project for mitigating the salinity problem. The Narendra Modi government earmarked ₹20,000 crore for the clean-up and promised that the river would be clean … The BJP included the cleaning of the Ganga in its 2014 election manifesto. Due to their long lifespan and high trophic level in the aquatic food web, turtles are vulnerable to heavy metals pollution, a major kind of pollution in the Ganges. Moumita Pal, Santinath Ghosh, Madhumita Mukhopadhyay, Mahau Ghosh. In Varanasi alone, an estimated forty thousand bodies are cremated every year into the Ganga, many of which are only half-burnt. Bouddi Solutions and Y-East are committed to cleaning the worlds major waster rivers and we are starting in Kolkata, India on the Hooghly/Ganges River! Use of fertilizers and pesticides is minimum. The condition of the Ganges river is becoming worse day by day because of an increase in the dumping of waste by the locals directly into it. It now stands at more than 70 times the recommended maximum level. 4000 crore on this task since 1985). More and more river water is diverted for irrigation use converting the river into a polluted sewer. For example, the Kotli-Bhel dam at Devprayag will submerge 1200 hectares of forest, wiping out the forest area. Stretches of over 600 km (370 mi) were essentially ecologically dead zones. The sea dike top level at 8 m above the mean sea level and 50 m wide at the top surface, would be nearly 600 km long connecting Indian mainland to South east of Bangladesh forming transnational high way and rail route from the Indian subcontinent to East Asia up to Singapore and China. ", "Problems and Solutions for the Ganga River", "The river where swimming lessons can be a health hazard", "Govt to extend Ganga action plan to major rivers", "World Bank Approves $1 Billion For Ganga River Cleanup", "India's Holy Ganges Gets a Cleanup: Government Embarks on $4 Billion Campaign to Treat Heavily Polluted Waters; Devout Hindus Revere River as 'Goddess, "48 industrial units polluting Ganga asked to close down", "Approval to Namami Gange - Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission / Programme under National Ganga River Basin Authority", "Ganga Manthan tomorrow: National meet to debate over river cleaning", "National meet on Ganga cleaning to be held tomorrow", "Pollution in holy river to be discussed in 'Ganga Manthan, "Existing and planned hydro dams in Nepal", "River water sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh (pages 116 to 120)", "Catchment area map of lakes Manasarovar and Rakshastal", "Efficacy of coastal reservoirs to address India's water shortage by impounding excess river flood waters near the coast (page 49)", "International Association for Coastal Reservoir Research", "Coastal reservoirs strategy for water resource development-a review of future trend", "Reservoir in sea to end Bengaluru's drinking water problems? [37] The chair includes the Prime Minister of India and chief ministers of states through which the Ganges flows. In 2011, the World Bank targeted the Ganges River pollution issues by launching the National Ganga River Basin Project (or NGRBP). Water for irrigation is being removed faster than the rainy season can replenish it. Over 450 million people live in the Ganges river basin, and human waste is the cause of most of the pollution. The Union Cabinet gave its approval for setting up of Clean Ganga Fund in September 2014 with the aim of using the collection for various activities under the Namami Gange programme for cleaning the Ganges. This turtle inhabits deep rivers, streams, large canals, lakes and ponds, with a bed of mud or sand. [36], NRGBA was established by the Central Government of India, on 20 February 2009 under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Sanitizing and protecting the Ganges is instrumental in helping India reduce its poverty rates and preserving a crucial water resource. With the diversion of Manasarovar lake water to Ganges basin, Lake Rakshastal would turn into a Soda lake with further increase in water salinity which is useful in abstracting the water-soluble chemicals on commercial scale. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 20(11), 8263-73. Ganga to be safe for bathing in 97 towns in 2 years: Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, NMCG Chief India being lower riparian state has right to claim share out of the river water flows from Nepal similar to India entered into river water sharing agreement with Bangladesh recognising it as lower riparian state. In a video released by BBC News, just a mere 10% drop in usage throughout the pandemic has led to significant improvement in the sanitation of the Ganges. [5][6] Raghubir Singh, an Indian photographer, has noted that no one in India spoke of the Ganges as being polluted until the late 1970s. To make the Ganges live/flowing and dilute the polluted water inflows from habitations and industries, at least 5000 cusecs flow is required from Narora to Farakka as minimum environmental flow during the eight months dry season. [2] Plastic and industrial waste, such as waste water from the Factories that sit on the banks of the Ganga, are another cause of pollution. The top surface of inner dike would serve as access to the main land from the mega harbor with rail and road links. The Government of India proposed to extend this model with suitable modifications to the national level through a National River Action Plan (NRAP). A plan to clean up corpses failed due to lack of planning . A promise to clean India's holiest river was made by prime minister Narendra Modi in his 2014 election campaign who stated this would be a national priority. [nmcg.nic.in National Mission for clean Ganga], This page was last edited on 25 April 2021, at 08:29. Here's a fact check on Business Standard. The Ganges River is 1,500 miles long from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. The overall rate of water-borne/enteric disease incidence, including acute gastrointestinal disease, was estimated to be about 66%. The river's water is the lifeblood for more than 600 million people in … The Ganges Brims With Dangerous Bacteria. Taking a leaf from the unsatisfactory results of the earlier Ganges Action Plans, the centre now plans to provide for operation and maintenance of the assets for a minimum 10-year period, and adopt a PPP/SPV approach for pollution hotspots. However the water of Manasarovar Lake located in China can be diverted to the upstream of Kanpur barrage (117 m msl) via Girijapur Barrage (129 m msl) located at 28°16′21″N 81°05′09″E / 28.27250°N 81.08583°E / 28.27250; 81.08583 across the Ghaghara/Karnali river which is a tributary of Ganges river flowing from Tibet/China and Nepal. India coronavirus lockdown 'cleans up' Ganges river Close The Ganges is one India's holiest and also most-polluted rivers. A book, 'Rowing down the Ganges', co-published by National Mission for Clean Ganga and Wildlife Institute of India will also be launched at the event. If pollution rates continue to climb, India will have a water crisis on its hands. The ultimate objective of the GAP is to have an approach of integrated river basin management considering the various dynamic interactions between abiotic and biotic eco-system. Listed as an endangered species, their population is believed to be less than 2000. Cleaning up the Ganges River with help from IoT. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation wing of National Ganga Council which was set up in October 2016 under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities order 2016. Thus Bangladesh would also benefit immensely with this coastal reservoir project. Modi has made the Ganga clean-up a primary mission of his government, but Joshi the professor emeritus thinks the river is “dying”. [19] The barrages at Bijnor and Narora divert all the water including baseflows during dry season to the canals for irrigating vast area up to Allahabad city. [48] These water diversion projects are located near 28°25′29″N 81°22′49″E / 28.42472°N 81.38028°E / 28.42472; 81.38028, 28°02′24″N 81°57′12″E / 28.04000°N 81.95333°E / 28.04000; 81.95333, 27°52′51″N 82°30′13″E / 27.88083°N 82.50361°E / 27.88083; 82.50361, 27°40′00″N 83°06′49″E / 27.66667°N 83.11361°E / 27.66667; 83.11361, 27°42′17″N 84°25′57″E / 27.70472°N 84.43250°E / 27.70472; 84.43250, 27°08′11″N 85°29′01″E / 27.13639°N 85.48361°E / 27.13639; 85.48361, 26°53′09″N 86°08′13″E / 26.88583°N 86.13694°E / 26.88583; 86.13694, 26°50′13″N 87°09′01″E / 26.83694°N 87.15028°E / 26.83694; 87.15028, 26°41′05″N 87°52′43″E / 26.68472°N 87.87861°E / 26.68472; 87.87861, etc. [58] Cheaper and continuously available hydro power will be supplied by harnessing the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers for the water pumping needs. “The Ganga will be cleaned only partially,” he says. The advantage of this scheme is that Ganges and Bramhaputra river waters can be stored on Bay of Bengal sea area and nearly 540 bcm water @ 17,000 cumecs transferred throughout the year to other river basins including Ganges basin at optimum pumping head. India’s Ganges river is the main source of water for half a billion people. [46][47], Nepal to release water during lean flow period. [66] Following his death in June 2011, his ashram leader Swami Shivananda fasted for 11 days starting on 25 November 2011, taking his movement forward. [7] However, pollution has been an old and continuous process in the river by the time people were finally acknowledging its pollution. The ash is dumped into ponds from which a slurry is filtered, mixed with domestic wastewater, and then released into the Pandu River. [9] After getting elected, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed to work on cleaning the river and controlling pollution. [30], The Ganges river dolphin is one of few species of fresh water dolphins in the world. The World Bank launched and financed its second project centered around cleaning the water back in June 2020. [43], Ganga Manthan was a national conference held to discuss issues and possible solutions for cleaning the river. More than just a body of water, the Ganges is an epicenter of religion, prosperity and life. Earth5R team will act on this issue by cleaning a bank of river Ganges in a particular locality - Assi, Varanasi Project Results The activity will involve the segregation of waste which will be collected after the cleanup. For restoring the minimum environmental flows, it is difficult to identify nearly 100 Tmcft storage reservoirs in the hilly region of Ganges basin in India as the river is flowing through steep valleys. The most worrying problem facing the river is its increasing lack of water. Further, water can be pumped into the Bagh reservoir and Upper Indravati reservoir located in Godavari River basin to transfer Ganges water into Godavari and Krishna river basins. At present it is overflowing into nearby Lake Rakshastal which is a landlocked saltwater endorheic lake. The year 2020 has been a promising year for pollution reduction in the Ganges River. The 600 km long, 1000 m gap between the two dikes is also used as deep water mega harbor for shipping, ship breaking, ship building, etc. [32], Some of the dams being constructed along the Ganges basin will submerge substantial areas of nearby forest. The river flows through 100 cities with populations over 100,000; 97 cities with population between 50,000 to 100,000, and about 48 towns. Ganga Mahasabha is an Indian organization dedicated to the Ganges, founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1905. The program emphasises on improved co-ordination mechanisms between various ministries/agencies of central and state governments. The centre will now take over 100% funding of various activities/ projects under this program. Smart News Keeping you current India Once Released 25,000 Flesh-Eating Turtles Into the Ganges A plan to clean … Ganga and Yamuna. Because of the establishment of a large number of industrial cities on the bank of the Ganga like Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Patna, countless tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals prosper and grow along this and contribute to the pollution of the Ganges by dumping untreated waste into it. The Ganga River, known as the Ganges under British rule, is one of the most revered waterways in the world -- and also among the most polluted. [16] The Farakka Barrage was built originally to divert fresh water into the Hooghly River but has since caused an increase of salinity in the downstream of the Ganges, having a damaging effect on the ground water and soil along the river. Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, head of the prime minister’s national clean Ganga project While the public supports a cleanup, Mishra says many don’t perceive a grave threat to a river that they feel can withstand anything. [29], The results of mercury analysis in various specimens collected along the basin indicated that some fish muscles tended to accumulate high levels of mercury. [1] Severely polluted with human waste and industrial contaminants, the river provides water to about 40% of India's population across 11 states,[2] serving an estimated population of 500 million people, which is more than any other river in the world. However, pollution has been an old and continuous process in the river by the time people were finally acknowledging its pollution. Since COVID-19 forced India to shut down, the Ganges’ usage has dropped. Trace metals in Ganges softshell turtle (aspideretes gangeticus) from two barrage: Baloki and rasul, pakistan. Stretches of over 600 km were essentially ecologically dead zones. [23] This is possible by constructing storage reservoirs of capacity 100 Tmcft across the Ganges tributaries located up stream of Narora city and reserving the stored water only for minimum environmental flows. More individuals depend on the Ganges River in India than there are people in the United States. Modi promised 200 billion rupees to clean the Ganges, to be supplied from state funds and donations from devout Hindus worldwide. Effectively, chromium levels have not decreased in the Ganges even after a common treatment plant was established in 1995. To act as a trendsetter for taking up similar action plans in other grossly polluted stretches in other rivers. Resource recovery options such as methane production for energy generation and use of aquaculture for revenue generation. [62] Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the present Union Cabinet Minister in Ministry of Jal Shakti. Creating a natural rights act helps to ensure that action will mobilize to protect the water resource and that is exactly what the GAP has set out to do. "[40] A World Bank spokesman described the plan in 2011, saying, Earlier efforts to clean the Ganges concentrated on a few highly polluting towns and centres 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 prioritising investment instead of the earlier town-centric approach.