INTRODUCTION

The Ganga, spanning 2,500 kilometres, sustains ecosystems, agriculture, and spiritual practices across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal before converging into the Bay of Bengal. Its basin supports 10% of the world's population, providing vital water resources for irrigation, drinking, and industry. Despite its cultural reverence, the Ganga faces pollution and degradation, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.

Current status

• Microplastic Pollution: India will release 391,879 tonnes of microplastics and will be the second leading polluter of the water bodies after China (787,069 tonnes) in the world, the analysis by Swiss non-profit EA Earth Action showed.

• Untapped drains: A report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2023 revealed that out of 301 drains flowing into the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, 147 or 48.83% are still untapped.

• Contamination: In 2023, an NGO, Sankat Mochan Foundation found faecal coliform bacteria levels in the Ganga River exceeding permissible limits by one million times, with a limit of 500 per 100 millilitres.

• CAG Audit Report: The latest audit report of the Namami Gange project by India's Comptroller and Auditor General in 2017 highlighted deficiencies in financial management, planning, implementation, and monitoring, resulting in delays in achieving program milestones.

• Amount spent: Between 1986 and 2014, approximately 20000 crore was allocated for cleaning the Ganga, with an additional 25000 crore allocated since 2014. By October 2022, over 13000 crore had already been spent on these efforts.

• Sewage Treatment Plant(STP): Between 2015 and 2021, 815 new STPs were built or proposed for the Ganga alone and most utilise Sequence Batch Reactors (SBRs), considered the best available technology for wastewater treatment.

Challenges 

• Frontline Workers: Frontline workers at treatment plants often endure poor working conditions despite their critical role in managing hazardous waste.

• Workers at Kanpur's Common effluent treatment plants(CETP) in Jajmau demand better pay, health benefits, and regularised work conditions, despite their role in treating toxic tannery waste containing chromium.

• Delays and Non Compliance: Delays in drain tapping, along with the slow progress in expanding sewage treatment plants (STPs) and non compliance of common effluent treatment plants (CETPs), are impeding efforts to improve the water quality of the Ganga. 

•  Out of 113 operational STPs in Uttar Pradesh, only 87 met the prescribed norms, indicating a serious issue of non-compliance with standards.

• Lack of Personnel: Projects faced significant delays due to the inadequate capacity of personnel to manage and implement them. Insufficiently prepared detailed project reports (DPRs) and slow execution further contributed to the delays. 

• Ambiguity:Non-compliance with new NGT standards, yet to be notified by the MoEFCC, poses a challenge. Although the CPCB cites non-compliance, actual figures often align with existing standards, leading to regulatory ambiguity.

• Criticism of projects: Rajendra Singh, renowned as the 'Waterman of India', criticised the central government for failing to address pollution in the Ganga, branding the Namami Gange program as mere beautification without effectively cleansing the river. 

• Political influence:Allegations of awarding contracts to unqualified firms due to political influence can undermine transparency and fairness in decision-making processes. 

• Example:In 2017, Essel Infrastructures secured a 150 crore contract for an STP despite lacking sewage treatment experience, prompting concerns due to its Chairman's affiliation as a Rajya Sabha MP of the ruling party.

Interventions

NGT

• Uttar Pradesh:

• The NGT formed a panel in 2024 to investigate a petition alleging polluted water discharge into the Ganga River at Prayagraj during the Magh Mela festival.

• In 2023, the NGT noted the lack of notification of Ganga floodplain and the absence of sewage treatment in drains leading to ghats, prompting a request for details from the Kanpur Municipal Corporation. Additionally, construction permissions were granted in the regulatory zones.

• The NGT in 2019 had imposed a penalty of Rs 10 crore on the UP government for failing to check sewage discharge containing toxic chromium into the Ganga.

Government

• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):

• NMCG, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, is tasked with preventing, controlling, and reducing environmental pollution in the Ganga River. 

• The NMCG gained authority to allow discharge of treated sewage meeting norms into the Ganga and its tributaries, as per an amendment to the 2016 River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order. This amendment aims to augment river water levels, by releasing treated sewage to boost river flow.

• Namami Gange Project:

• The government launched the 'Namami Gange' mission in 2014 to revive and clean the Ganga River, allocating Rs 20,000 Crores till 2019-2020, with 100% central funding. 

• This initiative aims to enhance inter-ministerial and centre-state coordination for improved action plan preparation and monitoring.

• Its vision for Ganga Rejuvenation focuses on 4 verticals of Aviral Ganga,Nirmal Ganga, Gyan Ganga and Jan Ganga. Arth Ganga, a recent fifth vertical, was added in 2019 which aims to establish a sustainable economic model fostering stronger ties between communities and the river. 

• Recognized as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships to revive the natural world at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Canada.

• Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP):

• Prepared by a consortium of 7 IITs in 2010. 

• The plan is being implemented by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under Namami Gange Programme. 

• NMCG has sanctioned a total of 254 projects worth Rs.24,672 crore under this plan

•  Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA)

• Led by NMCG ,the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) was inaugurated at COP28 in Dubai, UAE.With countries like India, Egypt, Netherlands, and others, along with international funding agencies and knowledge partners, GRCA covers 275+ global river-cities in 11 nations. This marks a significant stride in global river conservation and sustainable water management efforts.

Solutions

• Novel methods: Researchers at Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University have developed a new method to assess pollution levels in the Ganga River in Uttarakhand. They found microplastics, thermocol, and clothing fibres in fish stomachs, highlighting ongoing pollution. 

• C-Ganga: Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (C-Ganga), established at IIT Kanpur, serves as a centre of excellence for the development of the Ganga River Basin, leveraging scientific inputs from international experts and organisations.

• Bhuvan Ganga Geoportal and Mobile Application: Developed by NMCG and National Remote Sensing Centre by utilisation of geospatial technology. 

• Sewage Treatment Plant(STP):

•  Asia's largest Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) has been successfully established in Okhla, boasting an impressive capacity of 564 Million Litres Per Day (MLD). 

• The newly inaugurated 14 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Baghpat, UP is designed to harness sewage effluent through a 2.345 km interception line.

• International Collaboration:

• Through an MoU signed in 2019 , NMCG collaborated with the Republic of Slovenia to enhance flood mapping and technical efforts in the Ganga basin to harness expertise from both nations to tackle intricate river management challenges.

Way forward

• Holistic approach: It is imperative to shift focus from mere regulatory compliance to holistic river health which entails prioritising worker safety, environmental sustainability, and the efficacy of treatment processes at sewage treatment plants. 

• Innovative model: Introduced in 2018, the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) is a performance-based contract where only 40% of the capital cost is paid upfront, with the remaining 60% paid over 15 years. This approach addresses issues like time and cost overruns, ensuring better quality in projects.

• Regulating polluting sources: Government's focus solely on cleaning the river without addressing industries polluting its tributaries should change by involving stricter regulation of polluting industries.

• Water Harvesting: Restoring ponds, lakes, and wetlands as permanent solutions to floods and droughts is crucial, with only 10% of monsoon rainfall currently being harvested. This initiative should be integrated into river restoration and conservation strategies.

• Preserve River Corridors: Designate and safeguard river corridors as zones free from cement-concrete structures to preserve the natural integrity of rivers. Halt infrastructure development and riverfront projects in the name of smart   city development to conserve and safeguard surface water sources.

• Verification of STPs: Existing and planned STPs must undergo independent verification for efficiency, reliability, and technology parameters to ensure value for money and sustainability.

• A survey conducted by CPCB in 2016 found that most STPs in Kanpur fail to comply with environmental regulations.

• Monetization of Sludge: Implementing projects for the monetization of sludge can provide additional revenue streams for municipalities. This incentivizes effective management and maintenance of treatment processes.

• Community participation: Instituting District Ganga Committee meetings fosters decentralised monitoring,by encouraging locals to identify sources of pollution such as drain outlets and solid waste facilitates grassroots involvement in Ganga conservation efforts.

  
  

  Short Takes

  NGT: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), established in October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010, aims for the swift resolution of environmental protection cases and conservation matters, including the enforcement of legal rights related to the environment.It  is not bound by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but follows principles of natural justice.

  
  

  CPCB: Established in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is mandated to regulate and mitigate water and air pollution. It is also entrusted with the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Tasked with promoting cleanliness of water bodies and enhancing air quality, the CPCB provides technical support to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

  
  

CONCLUSION

In summary, Ganga faces multifaceted challenges ranging from pollution to inadequate infrastructure. While initiatives like Namami Gange show progress, holistic approaches, community engagement, and innovative solutions are vital for sustainable restorati

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Polity

Keywords:
Ganga River Pollution NGT