Despite the measures which Governments continue to publicise with pride, the fact is that the Ganga is getting more polluted by the day. Untreated waste-water and solid pollutants are slowly choking the river
The recent Central Pollution Control Board report on the status of our rivers was anything but a shocker. Given the dismal condition of the water bodies passing through Indian cities, the findings of the report are hardly surprising. The CPCB assessment focussed on the efficiency, or the lack of it, of the sewage treatment plants, which are supposed to ensure treatment of the water that is pumped into rivers from urban areas.
The CPCB report made some startling discoveries. For instance, West Bengal generates 1,311 million litres a day of waste-water, of which Kolkata contributes 47 per cent. However, West Bengal treats only 49 per cent of the waste-water before dumping it in the river Ganga. Though, to tackle this, the State has 34 sewage treatment plants with an installed capacity of 457 mld, but interestingly the STPs are treating only 214 mld, which is only 49 per cent of the daily output of waste-water.
Similarly, of all the 64 STPs in the Ganga river catchment in the States of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, the CPCB conducted a random inspection of 51 STPs, and it yielded the same result as that of West Bengal. The 51 STPs with a total installed capacity of 1,009 mld were found to be grossly under-operating at a dismal level of 602 mld, which is just 59 per cent. In addition, nine STPs were found to be violating the biological oxygen demand (which is an indicator of oxygen available in water standard). They exceeded the chemical oxygen demand (measure of organic pollutants in water) standard. This gross inefficiency and callous attitude towards the environment, in spite of having the required infrastructure, is a deeply concerning issue. The rivers are being dealt a double blow due to pollution from drains as well. According to the CPCB, 138 drains flow directly into the Ganga river catchment, of which nearly 76 per cent of the pollution load is being contributed by Uttar Pradesh alone.
Given this situation, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests needs to assess how this situation developed in spite of specific directives and relevant laws. As cities and industries thrive at the cost of the rivers of our country, the collateral damage is borne by the common man, as these polluted water bodies are unfortunately the only water resource for many but also the hotbed for numerous diseases. This is not a local issue but a global challenge.
According to a study, the river Thames, in the United Kingdom, will fail to meet pollution standards in 2015 unless farmers use 20 per cent less fertiliser and water companies reduce phosphorus discharges from sewage treatment. The Thames is the main source of water supply for 14 million people or two-thirds of the population of Greater london. However, it has been an encouraging journey for the historical river that was declared biologically dead 50 years ago due to extreme levels of pollution. The rapid strides made over the years in river conservation and pollution prevention is slowly reversing the tide.
The commitment of the British authorities to meet stringent standards has improved the quality of the Thames, and the European Union Water Framework Directive, which stresses that by 2015, all rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater must achieve ‘good ecological status’, is another milestone that the United Kingdom is striving to achieve. Similarly, a United States Geological Survey study shows the threat of nitrate pollution in the Mississippi river. However, the US authorities along with the farmer communities have adopted many measures to reduce nitrate influx into the river. These measures include techniques such as tiled farms that prevent nitrate run-off and creation of buffer zones between farms and rivers.
Since any type of pollution is not a unilateral process and has man as a major contributing factor, the solution too needs to be developed by involving the communities. In this case the Government needs to improve the triangular relationship between itself, environment and the community, and make efforts to ensure that the untreated sewage and other industrial waste do not find their way into the rivers.
It is estimated that 764 grossly polluting industries discharge waste-water into the Ganga. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests should ensure that suitable measures are taken to prevent the dumping of solid wastes, garbage and medical wastes onto river banks. It must curb quarrying of sand on riverbanks, and thereby help to preserve the bank’s stability.