Ganga, one of India’s most revered rivers, is once again grappling with severe contamination issues in the city of Kanpur, as unveiled in a shocking report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The findings of the report reveal that Ganga’s water quality in Kanpur has reached an unprecedented low, rendering it unsuitable not only for rituals like bathing but even for basic human contact.

The investigation conducted by the CPCB, led by Ajit Vidyarthi, Director and Department Head of Water Quality Management, spanned over three sampling dates – July 10, July 24 and August 22. The report reveals that a significant portion of the Ganga, stretching from Bithoor to Fatehpur in Kanpur, is now severely polluted, raising grave concerns among the residents and environmentalists.

The pollution levels have spiked alarmingly, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, making most of the riverbanks less suitable for public gatherings and rituals.

The original plan was to sample water from 27 drains in Kanpur and two in Unnao. However, due to the monsoon season, samples could be collected from only 20 drains. Of these, 18 were from the Ganga, and the remaining two were from the river Pandu, a tributary of Ganga.

The water collected from the Ganga near Budhiyaghat drain revealed extreme contamination. Notably, the water exhibited a disconcerting Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) level of 580 mg per litre, and a Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) level of 920 mg per litre, all surpassing acceptable standards.

Furthermore, the pH levels in Ganga water have been rising rapidly, reaching above the recommended pH of 7 at multiple locations, including Narora, Garh, Farrukhabad, Bithoor and Fatehpur. High pH levels can have detrimental effects on aquatic life and the environment. The highest recorded pH level was 8.07 near Jana village in Kanpur.

The CPCB report also highlights the presence of substantial solid waste along the banks of Golaghat, Budhiyaghat on the Ganga, Ganda Nala on the river Pandu, Ratanpur Nala and Halvakheda Nala. Urgent instructions have been issued to address this issue, as these waste piles contribute significantly to the increasing pollution levels in the Ganga and its tributary, the river Pandu.

Kanpur, the city where the Ganga becomes highly polluted, had previously seen efforts to divert and control the contamination of the river, but the ground reality, as indicated by these findings, paints a grim picture. The government’s initiatives to cleanse the Ganga have faced considerable challenges and have yet to yield the desired results.

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, which reflect the oxygen consumption by microorganisms in the water, is depleting at an alarming rate, with levels exceeding the standard limit of 3 mg per litre. The report says at some places it was just 2 mg per litre.

Additionally, the elevated Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels in Ganga water pose threats to aquatic life, potentially causing breathing difficulties and skin damage to those who come into contact with it. The acceptable COD level should be less than 250 mg per litre but it was found close to 345 mg per litre.

The report also sheds light on the total coliform (TC) standard, indicating that water should contain no more than 500 bacteria per 100 ml for safe bathing. If TC exceeds 5,000, the water is unsuitable for human use, posing a significant public health risk. The report says the TC ranged from 26,000 to 1.40 lakh bacteria per 100 ml.