To assess the percentage of dissolved oxygen in Ganga water, which is the barometer of survival of aquatic life in the river and fitness for human beings, Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) keeps checking water samples from time to time. Two samples from different locations were collected by the officials after the Amavasya Snan on Monday, the report of which is likely to be released within a fortnight.
Speaking to The Pioneer, the regional officer of UEPPCB, Roorkee, Ankur Kansal said, “As part of routine activity, we keep collecting water samples and sending to laboratory testing. Whenever there is huge gathering for snan, the department checks the quality of water. Our team collected samples from Chandi Ghat and Rishikul Bridge and sent them to the laboratory in Dehradun. After testing is done, we would come to know whether the BOD level has increased or decreased in the Ganga waters.”
Notably, lakhs of people took holy dip on the second snan of Ardh Kumbh Mela at Har Ki Pauri on Monday. As per the standards laid down by the department, the dissolved oxygen level in water should not be less than 4 mg per litre. With dissolved oxygen level less than that, it becomes a threat to the aquatic life, say the experts. However, the dissolved oxygen level can be minimum 5 mg per litre for water fit for bathing.
The official further said that the sample of water taken on January 14 and 15 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti had shown 9 mgs of dissolved oxygen for which the report would be released by Thursday.