pollution of the Ganges

The main causes of water pollution in the Ganges River are the disposal of human sewage and animal waste, increasing population density, and the discharge of industrial waste into the river.{{Citation |last=Wohl |first=Ellen |title=River Pollution |date=2014-09-29 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199363445-0003 |work=Environmental Science |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/obo/9780199363445-0003 |isbn=978-0-19-936344-5 |access-date=2023-02-21|url-access=subscription }}

The river flows through 100 cities with populations exceeding 100,000 residents, 97 cities with populations between 50,000 and 100,000 residents, and about 48 towns.{{cite web|url=http://www.africanwater.org/Ganga.htm |title=The Water Page - River Ganga |publisher=African water.org |date=12 December 1996 |access-date=9 July 2012}} A large proportion of the sewage with a high organic load in the Ganges originates from domestic water usage by this population. Three-quarters of all the sewage generated in the northern plains remains completely untreated before being discharged into the Ganges and its tributaries.{{cite web |url=https://graphics.reuters.com/INDIA-RIVER/010081TW39P/index.html |title=The race to save the river Ganges |access-date=22 February 2021}} Even where effective sewage treatment plants have been provided, more than half are either not operating at all or not operating efficiently.{{cite web|last=Chaturvedi|first=A|date=2017|title= Fixing India's Sewage Problem|publisher= Stanford Social Innovation Review|pages= 3–4|doi=10.48558/JDQ6-EC26 | url=https://doi.org/10.48558/JDQ6-EC26 |access-date=11 May 2024}} A review in 2022 indicated that only 37% of the 72,368 million liters per day (ML/D) of sewage generated is treated.{{cite journal|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344922001331|title=Perceived drivers and barriers in the governance of wastewater treatment and reuse in India: Insights from a two-round Delphi study|date=July 2022 |doi=10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106285 |access-date=11 June 2024 |last1=Breitenmoser |first1=Lena |last2=Cuadrado Quesada |first2=Gabriela |last3=N |first3=Anshuman |last4=Bassi |first4=Nitin |last5=Dkhar |first5=Nathaniel Bhakupar |last6=Phukan |first6=Mayuri |last7=Kumar |first7=Saurabh |last8=Naga Babu |first8=Andraju |last9=Kierstein |first9=Anjin |last10=Campling |first10=Paul |last11=Hooijmans |first11=Christine Maria |journal=Resources, Conservation and Recycling |volume=182 |bibcode=2022RCR...18206285B }}

There are numerous industrial cities on the banks of the Ganges, such as Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Patna, along with tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals. These cities and facilities actively contribute to the river's pollution by dumping untreated waste into it.{{cite web|url=http://www.elaw.org/node/858|title=Sacred Ganga Carries Toxic Pollution|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414112514/http://elaw.org/node/858|archive-date=14 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

One coal-based power plant on the banks of the Pandu River, a Ganges tributary, burns 600,000 tons of coal each year and produces 210,000 tons of fly ash. The ash is dumped into ponds, where a slurry is filtered, mixed with domestic wastewater, and then released into the Pandu River. Fly ash contains toxic heavy metals such as lead and copper. The concentration of copper in the Pandu River, before it even reaches the Ganges, is a thousand times higher than in uncontaminated water.

Industrial effluents account for about 12% of the total volume of waste reaching the Ganges. Although this is a relatively low proportion, it is a major concern because these effluents are often toxic and non-biodegradable. Plastic and industrial waste, including wastewater from factories on the banks of the Ganges, are also significant sources of pollution. The most alarming issue facing the river is its increasing lack of water, which is being used for irrigation faster than it can be replenished.

Owing to the sacred status of the river in Hinduism, over 70 million Hindu people bathe in the Ganges to cleanse themselves of their past sins, during festive seasons.{{cite web |title=Hindus pilgrims bathe in Ganga - World news - South and Central Asia - NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16447201 |access-date=14 May 2015 |work=NBC News|date=3 January 2007 }} Some materials, such as food, waste, and leaves, are left in the river, contributing to its pollution. Traditional Hindu beliefs hold that being cremated on its banks and floating down the Ganges will cleanse the sins of the deceased and carry them directly to salvation.

In the Hindu holy city of Varanasi alone, an estimated 40,000 bodies are cremated each year and deposited into the Ganges. Because many families cannot afford the high cost of sufficient quantities of cremation wood, many of the bodies placed in the river are only half-burnt.Wohl, Ellen E. 2012. A world of rivers: environmental change on ten of the world's great rivers. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Historical

The Ganges River holds a profoundly sacred and central place in Indian culture and spirituality, a status acknowledged across the provided sources. It “conquers a unique position in the cultural beliefs of India” {{Cite journal |last=Narayan Sinha |first=Sankar |date=2015 |title=Density of Pollution Indicator Bacteria in Relation to Physicochemical Factors During Diel Cycle of River Ganga at Ichapore, West Bengal, India |journal=Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=9 |doi=10.11648/j.fem.20150101.12 |doi-access=free |issn=2469-7869}}). This reverence is not a recent phenomenon; Roy states that “From times immemorial, the Ganga has been India's river of faith, devotion and worship”. This enduring legacy establishes the river not merely as a geographical feature but as a fundamental element of the nation’s spiritual identity, widely considered the “holiest river in the world”.

Throughout history, the Ganges has been intrinsically linked to the development of human settlement and civilization along its banks. It is described Roy and Dube “The river is considered to be the life of millions and the holiest river in the world, has become the object of industrial development, growth of civilization along the riverbank and its own religious significance”, intertwining its sacred identity with the very fabric of societal progress in the region. Recognizing this deep connection, the Indian government declared it the “National River of India... considering its unique position in Indian society and the world’s natural heritage” reflecting its crucial role in sustaining populations through agriculture, water supply, and transportation over millennia. Its significance is such that it has become an “object of industrial development, growth of civilization along the riverbank”.

Ritual bathing is one of the most prominent religious activities associated with the Ganges. Millions engage in this practice, particularly during festivals and large-scale gatherings, seeking purification and spiritual merit. The desire “to take a bath in the river during a religious festival”  is a common motivation for pilgrims. These activities often occur at specific “religious sites, i.e., ghats” built along the river’s edge. Events like the Ardh Kumbh Mela see “hundreds of millions of people converging on a river” for rituals centered around bathing, highlighting the immense scale of this devotional practice.{{Cite book |last1=Srivastava |first1=Biplav |last2=Sandha |first2=Sandeep Singh |last3=Raychoudhury |first3=Vaskar |last4=Randhawa |first4=Sukanya |last5=Kapoor |first5=Viral |last6=Agrawal |first6=Anmol |chapter=Building an Open, Multi-Sensor, Dataset of Water Pollution of Ganga Basin and Application to Assess Impact of Large Religious Gatherings |date=March 2020 |title=2020 IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications Workshops (PerCom Workshops) |chapter-url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9156149 |publisher=IEEE |pages=1–6 |doi=10.1109/PerComWorkshops48775.2020.9156149 |isbn=978-1-7281-4716-1}}

Beyond bathing, the Ganges is the focus of numerous other religious rites and offerings, signifying its role in the cycle of life and death and as a conduit for devotion. People “discharge external additives to water like coins, milk, flowers, and organic ashes” as part of their worship. The river is also used for the “immersion of idols” after religious festivals. These actions reflect the river’s function not just as a place for personal cleansing but as a recipient of offerings meant to honour deities or commemorate life events, integral to “various social, cultural and religious functions”

Specific cities along the Ganges have become major centers of pilgrimage and religious activity due to their association with the river. Varanasi, for instance, is described as the “spiritual center of Hinduism”.{{Cite journal |last1=Batabyal |first1=Amitrajeet |last2=Beladi |first2=Hamid |date=June 2024 |title=Decentralized vs. Centralized Water Pollution Cleanup in the Ganges in a Model with Three Cities |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11067-024-09620-8 |journal=Networks and Spatial Economics |language=en |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=383–394 |doi=10.1007/s11067-024-09620-8 |issn=1566-113X}} It is a primary site for cremation, a practice deeply rooted in Hindu tradition, leading to significant deposits as “32,000 bodies are cremated every year... results in 300 tons of ash and 200 tons of half-burnt human flesh being deposited into the Ganges”. This creation takes place at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi.. Haridwar is another critical location, notably hosting “large-scale religious gatherings” like the Kumbh Mela, drawing immense crowds for extended periods

The Ganges’ importance transcends specific rituals; it embodies a deep historical and cultural continuity for India. Its designation as the National River reflects this enduring “unique position”. Its significance is multi-faceted, playing an “enormous role in agriculture, fisheries, transportation, culture and religion”.{{Cite journal |last1=Parvez |first1=Md. Taskin |last2=Mohsin |first2=A. B. M. |last3=Arnob |first3=Sadman S. |last4=Lucas |first4=Martyn C. |last5=Chaki |first5=Nipa |last6=Khan |first6=Md. Abdul Gofur |last7=Galib |first7=Shams M. |date=January 2023 |title=Fish diversity decline in the lower Gangetic plains: a victim of multiple stressors |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10531-022-02505-7 |journal=Biodiversity and Conservation |language=en |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=341–362 |doi=10.1007/s10531-022-02505-7 |bibcode=2023BiCon..32..341P |issn=0960-3115}} The reverence for the Ganga is tied to its long history as a sustainer of life and a witness to the unfolding of civilization, making the preservation of this “ancient river” a matter of profound cultural and historical weight, alongside its ecological importance.

Agricultural Pollutants

Agricultural activities contribute significantly to the pollution load of the Ganges River through the introduction of various chemical substances. The key pollutants originating from farming include fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. These substances enter the river primarily via “run-off from agricultural fields carrying chemicals and fertilizers”. The widespread application of these materials means that “Most of the chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides used in farming eventually end up in rivers”. The use of river water for irrigation can also act as a pathway, potentially recirculating contaminants or washing excess agrochemicals from the land into the watercourse. The application of “excess agrochemicals and commercial fish feed”.  Faced with dwindling fish stocks, fishermen may be forced into “illegal fishing” practices or require “alternative livelihood options”. It is noted as a practice that exacerbates this contamination problem in connected agro-ecological areas.{{Cite journal |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Tapos Kumar |last2=Chandra Ghosh |first2=Gopal |last3=Hossain |first3=Md Ripon |last4=Islam |first4=Md. Shahnul |last5=Habib |first5=Ahsan |last6=Zaman |first6=Samina |last7=Bosu |first7=Himel |last8=Nice |first8=Md. Simoon |last9=Haldar |first9=Monisankar |last10=Khan |first10=Abu Shamim |date=October 2022 |title=Human health risk and receptor model-oriented sources of heavy metal pollution in commonly consume vegetable and fish species of high Ganges river floodplain agro-ecological area, Bangladesh |journal=Heliyon |language=en |volume=8 |issue=10 |pages=e11172 |doi=10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11172|doi-access=free |pmid=36325133 |pmc=9618996 |bibcode=2022Heliy...811172C }}

The influx of agricultural pollutants has detrimental effects on the Ganges’ water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Fertilizers, being “rich in Nitrogen and Phosphorus,” significantly increase the nutrient load in the river. This nutrient surge “causes a high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)” and leads to “eutrophication,” a process characterized by excessive algal growth which, upon decomposition, depletes dissolved oxygen essential for aquatic life. This “Severe depletion of oxygen chokes the life out of water”. Simultaneously, pesticides and herbicides washed into the river act as “toxic pollutants,” posing a direct threat as they are “particularly dangerous to life in rivers, streams and lakes”. These combined impacts degrade the river’s health and diminish its capacity to support a thriving ecosystem.

Climate Change & Ecological Degradation

Climate change is emerging as a critical factor posing ecological stress on the Ganges River, primarily by altering its hydrological dynamics and diminishing its inherent resilience. Several sources point to the “phenomenon of climate change... diminishing water flows in the Ganges”. This reduction in flow, along with other factors, has “most likely, reduced the river’s natural capacity to absorb pollutants”.{{Cite journal |last1=Batabyal |first1=Amitrajeet A. |last2=Kourtit |first2=Karima |last3=Nijkamp |first3=Peter |date=August 2023 |title=Climate change and river water pollution: An application to the Ganges in Kanpur |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nrm.12370 |journal=Natural Resource Modeling |language=en |volume=36 |issue=3 |doi=10.1111/nrm.12370 |bibcode=2023NRM....36E2370B |issn=0890-8575}} Specifically, models this, constructing a metric to measure the “climate change induced mean reduction in the natural capacity of the Ganges to absorb pollution”. This impaired “assimilative capacity” means that the existing pollution load has an even more severe impact, as the river is less able to dilute or naturally process the contaminants deposited into it daily. Consequently, climate change not only presents its challenges but also “worsens the impact of water pollution” from sources like tanneries.

The cumulative effect of pollution, altered hydrology (influenced by both climate change and structures like the Farakka Barrage), and other anthropogenic pressures results in severe ecological degradation and biodiversity loss within the Ganges ecosystem. The discharge of pollutants, particularly nutrient-rich agricultural runoff and oxygen-demanding sewage, leads to eutrophication. Eutrophication is an ecological process triggered by the excessive enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, particularly leading to an overproliferation of phosphorus and nitrogen. These excess nutrients, often originating from agricultural runoff containing fertilizers or untreated sewage, “promote excessive growth of algae”. As described by Roy this algal bloom is a key characteristic of the eutrophication process. Subsequently, “As the algae die and decompose, high levels of organic matter and the decomposing organisms deplete the water of available oxygen”. This severe oxygen depletion, a direct consequence of the decomposition of the overabundant algae, “chokes the life out of water and ultimately only anaerobic life-forms thrive”, and “Severe depletion of oxygen [which] chokes the life out of water”. This oxygen depletion, coupled with toxic industrial and agricultural chemicals, creates a hostile environment for aquatic life. The consequences are stark, as evidenced a study by  Pervez et al., showing a “decreasing trend in abundance and diversity” of fish fauna and even local extinctions, with findings indicating “28 fish species... were absent in recent catches” compared to historical data from 1982. This “rapid decline in native species richness and relative abundance” signifies a profound ecological crisis in the lower Ganges, driven by multiple interacting stressors that compromise the river's health and its ability to support its native biodiversity.

Built in 1854 during British rule in India, the Haridwar Dam has contributed to the decay of the Ganges by significantly reducing the river's flow.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Remove-dams-encroachments-to-clean-Ganga-Ram-Bihari/articleshow/46681566.cms|title=Remove dams & encroachments to clean Ganga|website=The Times of India|date=25 March 2015 |access-date=14 May 2015}} The Farakka Barrage was initially constructed to divert fresh water into the Hooghly River but has since increased salinity in the Ganges, adversely affecting groundwater and soil along the river. The barrage has caused major tension between Bangladesh and India, with Bangladesh actively considering the construction of the Ganges Barrage Project to address the salinity issue.{{cite web|url=http://www.thethirdpole.net/2015/12/03/bangladesh-seeks-indian-cooperation-to-build-4-billion-ganges-barrage/|title=Bangladesh seeks Indian cooperation to build $4 billion Ganges barrage|access-date=14 February 2016|date=2015-12-03}} Despite a government-commissioned green panel report recommending the cancellation of 34 proposed dams due to environmental concerns, the Indian government plans to construct about 300 dams on the Ganges and its tributaries in the near future.{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/300-dams-on-the-ganga-a-bane-or-a-boon/250311-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422080303/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/300-dams-on-the-ganga-a-bane-or-a-boon/250311-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 2012|title=300 dams on the Ganga: A bane or a boon?|work=IBNLive|access-date=14 May 2015}}

Three additional dams across the Ganges River are located at Bijnor, Narora, and Kanpur.{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/WwL1rDan74LzKzLyPjGFkK/CPCB-says-there-is-need-to-regulate-withdrawal-of-water-from.html|title=CPCB says there is need to regulate withdrawal of water from Ganga|access-date=24 December 2015|date=2015-12-23}} The dams at Bijnor and Narora divert all the water, including base flows during the dry season, to canals for irrigating areas up to Allahabad city. Flow upstream of the Kanpur barrage is used during the dry season for the drinking water supply of cities.{{Cite news|date=6 May 2013|title=Contaminated water a curse for people|newspaper=The Times of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Contaminated-water-a-curse-for-people/articleshow/19904126.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705115513/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Contaminated-water-a-curse-for-people/articleshow/19904126.cms|archive-date=5 July 2015|url-status=live}} Downstream of the Kanpur dam, adequate water volumes are unavailable during the dry seasons of the year.{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=184100|title= Centre notifies minimum environmental flows for River Ganga|access-date=11 October 2018}}

Several pumping stations are located on the banks of the Ganges downstream of the Kanpur barrage, serving the region's irrigation needs.{{cite web|url=http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Headworks_(Dam,_Barrage,Weir,_Anicut,_Lift)|title=list of head works (Dams,_Barrages, Weirs, Anicuts, Lifts) on Ganga river|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921052447/http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Headworks_(Dam,_Barrage,Weir,_Anicut,_Lift)|archive-date=21 September 2017|url-status=dead}}

These large pump houses are situated at the following coordinates:

• Rukunpur: 26°10′21″N 80°38′57″E
• Kanjauli Kachhar: 25°17′37″N 82°13′15″E
• Hakanipur Kalan: 25°12′57″N 83°01′15″E
• Bhosawali: 25°20′46″N 83°10′11″E
• Shekpur: 25°32′13″N 83°11′57″E
• Chochakpur: 25°28′55″N 83°25′11″E
• Lamui: 25°23′20″N 83°32′11″E
• Chausa: 25°31′11″N 83°54′04″E

These irrigation facilities pump out most of the base flows from the main river downstream of Kanpur city.

To keep the Ganges flowing and dilute polluted water inflows from habitations and industries, a minimum environmental flow of at least 5,000 cusecs is required from Narora to Farakka during the eight-month-long dry season.{{cite web|url=https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/942-dams-barrages-in-ganga-basin-preventing-rejuvenation-environmentalists/66791620|title= 942 dams, barrages in Ganga basin preventing rejuvenation: Environmentalists|access-date=25 November 2018}} This could be achieved by constructing storage reservoirs with a capacity of 100 Tmcft across the Ganges' tributaries upstream of Narora city and reserving the stored water solely for minimum environmental flows.{{cite journal|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2019/39/special-articles/cleaning-ganga.html|title= Cleaning the Ganga|journal= Economic and Political Weekly|date= 5 June 2015|volume= 54|issue= 39|pages= 7–8|access-date=25 September 2019}}

Additionally, a series of cascading dam bridges should be constructed across the river from Kanpur to Allahabad to increase the surface area of impounded polluted water and serve as natural oxidation ponds. The goal is for the accumulated pollutants to be washed away during the annual monsoon floods. Several dams are already planned between Farakka and Allahabad as part of the National Waterway 1 project, which aims to make the 1,620 km stretch of the river navigable from Haldia to Allahabad and could potentially be extended up to Kanpur.{{cite web|url=http://thewire.in/2016/04/06/ganga-waterways-project-raises-hopes-and-fears-27834/|title=Ganga Waterways Project Raises Hopes and Fears|access-date=14 April 2016}}

A 2006 measurement of pollution in the Ganges revealed that river water monitoring over the previous 12 years had shown fecal coliform counts of up to 100,000,000 MPN per 100 mL{{Cite journal |last1=Hamner |first1=Steve |last2=Tripathi |first2=Anshuman |last3=Mishra |first3=Rajesh Kumar |last4=Bouskill |first4=Nik |last5=Broadaway |first5=Susan C. |last6=Pyle |first6=Barry H. |last7=Ford |first7=Timothy E. |date=2006-04-01 |title=The role of water use patterns and sewage pollution in incidence of water-borne/enteric diseases along the Ganges river in Varanasi, India |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09603120500538226 |journal=International Journal of Environmental Health Research |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=113–132 |doi=10.1080/09603120500538226 |issn=0960-3123 |pmid=16546805|bibcode=2006IJEHR..16..113H |url-access=subscription }} and biological oxygen demand levels averaging over 40 mg/L in the most polluted part of the river at Varanasi. The overall rate of water-borne disease incidence, including acute gastrointestinal diseases, was estimated to be about 66%.Hamner S, Tripathi A, Mishra RK, Bouskill N, Broadaway SC, Pyle BH, Ford TE. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16546805 "The role of water use patterns and sewage pollution in incidence of water-borne/enteric diseases along the Ganga river in Varanasi, India."], International Journal of Environmental Health Research, Montana, USA, 2006 Apr 16.

A systematic classification by the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) categorized river waters into four categories: A (safe for drinking), B (safe for bathing), C (safe for agriculture), and D (excessive pollution). The Ganges was classified in category D. Coliform bacteria levels in the Ganges have also been tested at 5,500 MPN per 100 mL, a level too high to be considered safe for agricultural use, let alone for drinking or bathing.{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/kids/article2292290.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=Swati | last=Daftuar | title=Polluted flows the Ganga | date=25 July 2011}}

The leather industry in Kanpur, which employs around 50,000 people in more than 400 tanneries, uses chemicals such as toxic chromium compounds. Despite the establishment of a common treatment plant in 1995, chromium levels in the Ganges have not decreased and now exceed the recommended maximum level by more than 70 times.{{Cite web |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h_73xOTuToBSIQEuL9Hd3lklQkJw |title=Indians keep faith with Ganga despite pollution |access-date=27 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127202234/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h_73xOTuToBSIQEuL9Hd3lklQkJw |archive-date=27 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}

A study conducted by the National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP) under the Indian Council of Medical Research in 2012 suggested that "those living along its banks in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Bengal are more prone to cancer than anywhere else in the country."{{cite web|author=Anirban Ghosh |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ganga-is-now-a-deadly-source-of-cancer-study-says/articleshow/16842966.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523221431/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-17/india/34524382_1_cancer-patients-prostate-cancer-national-cancer-institute |url-status=live |archive-date=23 May 2013 |title=Ganga is now a deadly source of cancer, study says |date=17 October 2012 |work=The Times of India |access-date=25 June 2017}}

In 2020, a study showed that the levels of toxic heavy metals in the Ganges had significantly improved in recent years. This study was supported by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF).{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/oct/08/ganga-river-much-cleaner-than-its-tarnished-image-study-2207618.html|title=Ganga river much cleaner than its tarnished image: Study|date=8 October 2020 }}

The results of mercury analysis in various specimens collected along the basin indicated that some fish muscles accumulated high levels of mercury, with approximately 50-84% of it being organic mercury. A strong positive correlation was found between mercury levels in muscle tissue and both food habits and fish length.Moumita Pal, Santinath Ghosh, Madhumita Mukhopadhyay, Mahau Ghosh. Ganga and Yamuna. [https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10661-011-2193-5 "Methyl mercury in fish—a case study on various samples collected from Ganga river at West Bengal."], Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 8 June 2011.

The Ganges river dolphin is one of the few species of freshwater dolphins in the world. Listed as endangered, its population is believed to be less than 2,000. Hydroelectric and irrigation dams along the Ganges, which prevent the dolphins from traveling up and down the river, are considered the main reason for their declining numbers.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/gangesriverdolphin/gangesriverdolphin.html |title=Ganga River Dolphin|work=World Wildlife Fund |access-date=14 May 2015}}

The Ganges softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) is found in the Ganges, Indus, and Mahanadi river systems of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. This turtle inhabits deep rivers, streams, large canals, lakes, and ponds with beds of mud or sand. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this turtle species is vulnerable. Due to their long lifespan and high trophic level in the aquatic food web, these turtles are particularly susceptible to heavy metal pollution, a major issue in the Ganges.Malik, R. N., Ghaffar, B., & Hashmi, M. Z. (2013). Trace metals in Ganges softshell turtle (aspideretes gangeticus) from two barrage: Baloki and rasul, pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 20(11), 8263-73. {{doi|10.1007/s11356-013-1805-8}}

Some of the dams being constructed along the Ganges basin will submerge substantial areas of nearby forest. For example, the Kotli-Bhel dam at Devprayag will submerge 1,200 hectares of forest, destroying the forest ecosystem and its wildlife.

The pollution of the Ganges River significantly threatens wildlife and the non-human world by contaminating habitats and endangering numerous species. Plastic debris, heavy metals, and organic pollutants accumulate in the river, posing ingestion and entanglement risks to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. These pollutants can lead to declines in biodiversity, disrupt reproductive cycles, and cause mortality among threatened and migratory species that rely on the river’s ecosystems. Protecting the health of the Ganges is therefore essential not only for human communities but also for preserving the ecological integrity and survival of its diverse non-human inhabitants.

The severe pollution of the Ganges directly undermines the livelihoods of millions who depend intimately on the river’s resources, particularly vulnerable communities engaged in traditional occupations. Fishing, a critical source of sustenance and income, is severely threatened by ecological degradation. Studies conducted by Parvez and his co-authors  documented  “ a rapid decline in native species richness and relative abundance” and local extinctions, driven by multiple stressors including pollution. Fishermen commonly report “a decline in fish capture”, directly impacting their earnings and food security. Furthermore, the accumulation of “Toxic metals and metalloids” like arsenic and lead in fish species renders catches potentially unsafe for consumption or sale, adding another layer of economic and health insecurity. Similarly, farmers like “Chetan [who] may want to use river water for irrigating his fields” face challenges as “degraded water quality is contributing to water scarcity” and limiting its availability and suitability for agriculture. Contaminated river water used for irrigation can also lead to toxic metals accumulation in vegetables grown in the floodplain jeopardizing agricultural livelihoods and consumer health.

Migration from rural areas to urban centers along the Ganges basin exacerbates pollution by increasing the volume of wastewater and waste discharge into the river. As rural populations move to cities like Varanasi and Kolkata, the influx of domestic and industrial waste often surpasses existing sewage treatment capacities, leading to higher levels of untreated effluents entering the river.{{Cite journal |last1=Schuyler |first1=Qamar |last2=Roman |first2=Lauren |last3=Lawson |first3=T J |last4=Hardesty |first4=Britta Denise |date=2023-07-01 |title=Modelling the relative risk of plastic pollution to wildlife when data are scarce: an applied approach in the Mekong and Ganges river basins |url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/acdca7 |journal=Environmental Research Letters |volume=18 |issue=7 |pages=074019 |doi=10.1088/1748-9326/acdca7 |bibcode=2023ERL....18g4019S |issn=1748-9326|doi-access=free }} This rapid urbanization driven by migration strains infrastructure and results in more pollutants, including plastics, heavy metals, and organic waste, further degrading water quality and ecological health. Consequently, migration amplifies the challenges of managing pollution and shows the need for improved waste management systems in growing urban areas within the Ganges basin.{{Cite journal |last1=Sigdel |first1=Rajesh |last2=Carlton |first2=Gregory |last3=Gautam |first3=Bivek |date=February 2023 |title=Resolving the Ganges pollution paradox: A policy-centric systematic review |url=https://doi.org/10.1002/rvr2.35 |journal=River |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=126–141 |doi=10.1002/rvr2.35 |bibcode=2023River...2..126S |issn=2750-4867|doi-access=free }}

Beyond the direct impacts on fishing and farming, the Ganges’ pollution shifts the lives of vulnerable communities through health burdens and reduced economic opportunities. The contamination makes the river unsafe for essential household activities, forcing people like “Bina [who] may want to... fetch from river water for household activities” to seek alternatives, which may be costly or unavailable. High levels of pathogens from sewage lead to waterborne diseases like cholera, imposing healthcare costs and loss of productive time on families least equipped to handle them. The fear of getting sick impacts even cultural and religious participation. For example, Srivastava explains how one child, Abhay, “may want to take a bath... and would want to know which banks... are feasible to go without getting sick”. The decline in river health affects related economic activities like ferry transport and potentially tourism, limiting diverse income streams. The diverse array of people who depend on the Ganges live with pressure on traditional ways of life and the disproportionate burden borne by communities reliant on a river ecosystem compromised by upstream industrial discharges, widespread municipal waste, and agricultural runoff.

An analysis of Ganges water in 2006 and 2007 revealed significant associations between water-borne diseases and the use of the river for bathing, laundry, washing, eating, cleaning utensils, and brushing teeth. Water from the Ganges has been linked to dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, and severe diarrhea, which remains one of the leading causes of death among children in India.{{cite web|url=http://www.care2.com/causes/saving-the-ganges.html|title=Problems and Solutions for the Ganga River|access-date=14 May 2015}}

During the summer and monsoon, hospital wards teem with children who need treatment for waterborne diseases - but according to S.C. Singh, a paediatrician at Varanasi Shiv Prasad Gupta Hospital, their parents rarely mention that they have been swimming in the river. They don't appear to have made the connection, he says.{{cite web

| last = Naskar

| first = Sudhiti

| title = The river where swimming lessons can be a health hazard

| work = BBC News

| access-date = 4 July 2014

| date = 1 July 2014

| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28112403

}}

The pollution of the Ganges River represents an issue of justice crisis, disproportionately affecting the millions who rely directly on its waters for survival, livelihood, and spiritual practice. The pollution of the Ganges river is a significant environmental justice (EJ) issue because it disproportionately affects the health and livelihoods of marginalized communities that rely on its waters for drinking, agriculture, and sanitation. As noted in the systematic review (The systematic review on Ganges pollution is supported by researchers and academic institutions, including the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society in Kathmandu, Nepal), the river supports large populations that often lack access to clean water, highlighting the social inequities associated with pollution and inadequate policy responses. Since the river suffers from immense contamination, with nearly 70 percent of its surface water resources contaminated by biological, toxic, organic, and inorganic pollutants, this degradation directly translates into hazards to human health, manifesting as waterborne diseases like cholera from sewage and severe risks from consuming contaminated food. A professor at IIT Kanpur, Tushar Kanti Chakraborty shows that toxic heavy metals from industries and agriculture accumulate in fish and vegetables, becoming highly harmful even at low doses, posing severe long-term health threats, particularly carcinogenic risks, to local populations who depend on these food sources. Furthermore, the intense pollution during mass religious gatherings, where people indiscriminately use water in activities like bathing and religious rites not only poses immediate health risks to participants but also impacts downstream communities and economies, often affecting those with fewer resources to cope with the environmental degradation. The unsuccessful nature of past large-scale cleanup efforts, such as the Ganga Action Plan, to fully rectify the situation shows a systemic failure that continues to burden vulnerable populations living alongside and depending on this vital, yet severely compromised, river.

Beyond the immediate human cost, the environmental justice concerns surrounding the Ganges extend deeply into the more-than-human world, reflecting a disregard for the river’s ecological integrity and the intrinsic value of its biodiversity. The pollution of the Ganges river constitutes an environmental justice issue for other-than-human species, as it threatens the survival of aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity that depend on its clean waters. Protecting these ecosystems is essential for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring that non-human life is valued and preserved equitably. Socio-economic profiling of Ganga river basin in fostering environmental sustainability and cultural diversity in India. This reveals a devastating impact on aquatic ecosystems, noting that freshwater biodiversity is “declining at a faster rate” than in other realms and that its “conservation does not receive sufficient attention”. This neglect is starkly evidenced by findings in the lower Ganges, where “28 fish species, including 16 nationally threatened ones, were absent in recent catches, suggesting local extinction”. The river itself is treated as a receptacle for waste, overwhelming its natural processes. Compounded by climate change, which is “diminishing water flows” and reducing the river’s “natural capacity to absorb pollutants”, the Ganges ecosystem is facing collapse. This degradation is a form of injustice against the river itself, viewed by millions as sacred, and against the myriad life forms it supports, whose right to a healthy environment is intrinsically linked to human well-being and cultural heritage.

Pollution in the Ganges River is a critical environmental justice (EJ) issue because it disproportionately impacts marginalized communities that depend on its waters for daily needs such as drinking, sanitation, and agriculture. These communities often lack access to clean water and bear the brunt of pollution's health and economic consequences, highlighting social inequities. These include rural residents, urban poor, and traditional communities that often lack access to clean water and are disproportionately affected by pollution. Addressing Ganges pollution requires equitable policies that prioritize vulnerable populations and ensure their right to a healthy environment. Recognizing pollution as an EJ issue emphasizes the need for inclusive solutions that consider both human health and ecological integrity. Ultimately, environmental justice calls for fair distribution of resources and responsibilities to protect both people and the other-than-human species reliant on the river.

The Ganga Mahasabha is an Indian organization dedicated to the Ganges, founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1905. After a long struggle, British India agreed on 5 November 1914 to the Ganga Mahasabha's request, recognizing that the uninterrupted flow of the Ganges is a fundamental right of Hindus. This day is known as "Aviral Ganga Samjhauta Divas" (Uninterrupted Ganga Flow Agreement Day) in Indian history. The agreement, known as the Agreement of 1916, came into effect on 19 December 1916. Despite its legal validity, the sanctity of the agreement has not been upheld by the state and central governments of India after independence. Increasingly, river water is diverted for irrigation use, exacerbating pollution and strain on the river.

File: The Ganga Canal Dried for Cleaning the River Bed.png

The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched by Rajiv Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, in June 1985.{{Cite web |url=http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/GANGA%20ACTION%20PLAN%20PHASE.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009030050/http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/GANGA%20ACTION%20PLAN%20PHASE.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-10-09 |access-date=2023-12-28 |title=GANGA ACTION PLAN PHASE-I|website=Ganga Action Plan.pdf}} It covered 25 Class I towns (6 in Uttar Pradesh, 4 in Bihar, and 15 in West Bengal),{{Cite web|url=http://nmcg.nic.in/NamamiGanga.aspx |title=Namami Gange Programme|website=nmcg.nic.in |access-date=2017-05-01}} with {{INR}}862.59 crore spent. The main objective was to improve water quality through the interception, diversion, and treatment of domestic sewage and to prevent toxic and industrial chemical wastes from identified polluting units from entering the river. The other objectives of the GAP are as follows:

• Control of non-point source pollution from human defecation, cattle wallowing, and the disposal of human remains in the river.
• Research and development to conserve the biotic diversity of the river and enhance its productivity.
• Development of sewage treatment technologies, such as Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB), and sewage treatment through afforestation.
• Rehabilitation of soft-shelled turtles to aid in pollution abatement.
• Resource recovery options, such as methane production for energy generation and the use of aquaculture for revenue generation.
• To serve as a model for similar action plans in other heavily polluted stretches of rivers.
• The ultimate objective of the GAP is to adopt an integrated river basin management approach, considering the various dynamic interactions between abiotic and biotic ecosystems.

Despite some delays in completing the first phase of the GAP, it has generated considerable interest and laid the groundwork for developing a national approach to replicating this program for other polluted rivers in the country. The Government of India proposed to extend this model with suitable modifications at the national level through the National River Action Plan (NRAP). The NRAP draws on the lessons learned and experiences gained from the GAP, as well as seeking input from State Governments and other concerned Departments and Agencies. Under the NRCP scheme, the CPCB conducted river basin studies and identified 19 polluted stretches and 14 less polluted stretches along 19 rivers, including 11 stretches along 7 rivers in Madhya Pradesh.

Phase II covered 59 towns across five states, with more than ₹5.053 billion spent. Rivers such as the Yamuna, Gomti, Damodar, and Mahananda had separate action plans.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-to-extend-ganga-action-plan-to-major-rivers/article6221158.ece|title=Govt to extend Ganga action plan to major rivers|last=PTI|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-05-01|language=en}}

{{Main|National Ganga River Basin Authority}}

The National Ganges River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was established by the Central Government of India on 20 February 2009 under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It declared the Ganges as the "National River" of India.{{Cite web |url=http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/index.html |title=National River Ganga Basin Authority |access-date=18 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007130424/http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/index.html |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} The chair of the NGRBA includes the Prime Minister of India and the chief ministers of the states through which the Ganges flows.{{Cite web |url=http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/PolicyMaking.html |title=Composition of NGRBA. |access-date=18 April 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710071911/http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/PolicyMaking.html |archive-date=10 July 2012 |url-status=dead }} In 2011, the World Bank approved $1 billion in funding for the NGRBA.{{cite web| last = McDermott| first = Matt| title = World Bank Approves $1 Billion For Ganga River Cleanup| work = TreeHugger| access-date = 4 July 2014| date = 1 June 2011| url = http://www.treehugger.com/clean-water/world-bank-approves-1-billion-for-ganges-river-cleanup.html}}

In 2010, it was announced that "the Indian government has embarked on a $4 billion campaign to ensure that by 2020 no untreated municipal sewage or industrial runoff enters the 1,560-mile river."{{Cite news

| last = Pokharel

| first = Krishna

| title = India's Holy Ganges Gets a Cleanup: Government Embarks on $4 Billion Campaign to Treat Heavily Polluted Waters; Devout Hindus Revere River as 'Goddess'

| work = Wall Street Journal

| access-date = 4 July 2014

| date = 13 February 2010

| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704878904575031333129327818

}}

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.

The lobby group Sankat Mochan Foundation (SMF) "is working with GO2 Water Inc., a Berkeley, California-based wastewater technology company," to design a new sewage treatment system for Varanasi.

The Supreme Court of India has been working on the closure and relocation of many industrial plants, such as Tulsi, along the Ganges. In 2010, the government declared the stretch of river between Gaumukh and Uttarkashi an eco-sensitive zone.

{{main|Namami Gange Programme}}

In the budget presented in Parliament on 10 July 2014, 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.{{cite web|title=Namami Ganga development Project gets 2037 crores |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/07/namami-ganga-development-project-gets-2037-crores/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=10 July 2014}} The objectives were the effective abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of the Ganges. The project covers 8 states. The Ministry of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation proposed to make 1,674 gram panchayats along the Ganges open defecation-free, at a cost of ₹1,700 crore (central share). An estimated ₹2,958 crore (US$460 million) had been spent by July 2016 on various efforts to clean up the river.

As part of the program, the Government of India ordered the shutdown of 48 industrial units around the Ganges.{{cite news|title=48 industrial units polluting Ganga asked to close down|url=http://www.patrika.com/news/48-industrial-units-polluting-ganga-asked-to-close-down/1017955|access-date=15 July 2014|work=Patrika Group|date=15 July 2014}}

The program had a budget outlay of ₹20,000 crore for the next five years, marking a significant five-fold increase over the expenditure of the past 30 years (the Government of India incurred approximately ₹4,000 crore on this task since 1985). The central government will now cover 100% of the funding for various projects under this program. Learning from the unsatisfactory results of earlier Ganges Action Plans, the central government plans to provide operation and maintenance assets for a minimum of 10 years and adopt a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) approach for addressing pollution hotspots.

In an attempt to bolster enforcement, the central government also plans to establish a four-battalion Ganges Eco-Task Force. The program emphasizes improved coordination mechanisms between various ministries and agencies of the central and state governments. It includes major infrastructure investments that fall under the original mandates of other ministries. Additionally, Urban Development (UD), Drinking Water & Sanitation (DWS), and Environment, Forests & Climate Change (EF&CC) will also be involved in the program.

"Namami Gange" will focus on pollution abatement interventions, primarily through the interception, diversion, and treatment of wastewater flowing through open drains. The program will employ bio-remediation, appropriate in-situ treatment, innovative technologies, sewage treatment plants (STPs), and effluent treatment plants (ETPs). It aims to rehabilitate and augment existing STPs and implement immediate short-term measures to prevent pollution at river exit points and prevent the inflow of sewage.

Significantly, the approach is notable for the socio-economic benefits it is expected to deliver, including job creation, improved quality of life, and health benefits for the vast population that depends on the river.{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=121638|title=Approval to Namami Gange - Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission / Programme under National Ganga River Basin Authority}}

The main pillars of Namami Gange Programme are:

1. Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure
2. River-Front Development
3. River-Surface Cleaning
4. Bio-Diversity
5. Afforestation
6. Public Awareness
7. Industrial Effluent Monitoring
8. Ganga Gram

With the success of the Namami Gange Programme, the Government of India allocated ₹22,500 crore for Namami Gange Mission-II, which aims to provide further maintenance of the Ganges, with funds allocated until 2026.{{Cite web |last=www.ETInfra.com |title=Budgetary outlay for Namami Gange Mission-II Rs 22,500 cr till 2026 - ET Infra |url=https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/water/budgetary-outlay-for-namami-gange-mission-ii-rs-22500-cr-till-2026/97913118 |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=ETInfra.com |language=en}} From FY 2014–15 through 31 January 2023, the government provided the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) with a total of ₹14,084.72 crore. Of that amount, the NMCG has allocated ₹13,607.18 crore to state governments, state missions for cleaning the Ganges, and other organizations for the implementation of projects related to the rejuvenation of the river.{{Cite web |last=Luthra |first=Swati |date=2023-02-13 |title=Namami Gange Mission-II approved with budgetary outlay of ₹22,500 cr till 2026 |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/namami-gange-mission-ii-approved-with-budgetary-outlay-of-rs-22-500-cr-till-2026-11676289486061.html |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=mint |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=NAMAMI GANGE MISSION-II APPROVED WITH A BUDGETARY OUTLAY OF RS.22,500 CRORE TILL 2026 |url=https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1898802 |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=pib.gov.in}}

Ganga Manthan was a national conference held to discuss issues and possible solutions for cleaning the river.[https://nmcg.nic.in/AboutGangaManthan.aspx Ganga Manthan]{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/ganga-manthan-tomorrow-national-meet-to-debate-over-river-cleaning/|title=Ganga Manthan tomorrow: National meet to debate over river cleaning|date=6 July 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=14 May 2015}}

The conference aimed to gather feedback from stakeholders and prepare a roadmap for rejuvenating the Ganges. The event was organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on 7 July 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-national-meet-on-ganga-cleaning-to-be-held-tomorrow-2000080|title=National meet on Ganga cleaning to be held tomorrow|work=dna|access-date=14 May 2015|date=2014-07-06}}{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Pollution-in-holy-river-to-be-discussed-in-Ganga-Manthan/articleshow/37562938.cms|title=Pollution in holy river to be discussed in 'Ganga Manthan'|work=The Times of India|date=July 2014 |access-date=14 May 2015}}

Nepal has constructed many barrages (excluding joint projects with India) and pump houses to divert river flows during the lean season for irrigation purposes.{{cite web|url=http://www.thethirdpole.net/2016/03/17/will-china-invest-in-nepals-hydropower-plants/|title= Existing and planned hydro dams in Nepal|access-date=14 March 2016}} These water diversion projects are located near the following coordinates: {{Coord|28|25|29|N|81|22|49|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|28|02|24|N|81|57|12|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|27|52|51|N|82|30|13|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|27|40|00|N|83|06|49|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|27|42|17|N|84|25|57|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|27|08|11|N|85|29|01|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|26|53|09|N|86|08|13|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|26|50|13|N|87|09|01|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, and {{Coord|26|41|05|N|87|52|43|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}. As a lower riparian state, India has the right to claim a share of the river water flows from Nepal, similar to the river water sharing agreements India has with Bangladesh, which recognizes Bangladesh as a lower riparian state.{{cite web|url=http://cwc.gov.in/sites/default/files/legal_instruments_4.pdf|title= River water sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh (pages 116 to 120)|access-date=4 August 2020}} Currently, there is no bilateral agreement between India and Nepal for equitable sharing of river waters during the lean season. When Nepal releases water into India during this period, it would help in cleaning and diluting the polluted waters of the downstream Ganges River up to the Farakka Barrage.

Image:Mt Kailash sat.jpg in the background]]

Restoring the minimum environmental flows is challenging due to the difficulty of identifying nearly 100 Tmcft of storage reservoirs in the hilly region of the Ganges basin in India, as the river flows through steep valleys. Large storage reservoirs like Tehri and Ramganga have already been constructed at feasible locations. However, water from Manasarovar Lake could be diverted to the Mabja Zangbo River, a tributary of the Karnali River in China, to reach upstream of the Kanpur Barrage (117 m msl) via Girijapur Barrage (129 m msl) located at {{Coord|28|16|21|N|81|05|09|E|type:landmark_region:IN-UP}} across the Ghaghara/Karnali River, which is a tributary of the Ganges flowing from Tibet and Nepal.

Manasarovar Lake has a surface area of {{convert|320|km2}} and a maximum depth of {{convert|90|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It holds more than 100 Tmcft of water in its top 13 meters. Currently, it overflows into the nearby Lake Rakshastal, a landlocked saltwater endorheic lake. The annual water inflows from the catchment area of Manasarovar Lake, located at {{convert|4,590|m}} above mean sea level, can be diverted by gravity to the Karnali River basin in China through a 15-kilometer long tunnel.

The continuously diverted water can be used in China for hydroelectric power generation, where the available head drop exceeds 800 meters over a 40-kilometer stretch. This would be a joint project involving China, Nepal, and India to control river water pollution and ensure the Ganges flows throughout the year. With the diversion of water from Manasarovar Lake to the Ganges basin, Lake Rakshastal would become a soda lake with increased water salinity, which could be useful for extracting water-soluble chemicals on a commercial scale.

The freshwater inflows into Manasarovar Lake can be significantly increased by gravity diversion from the major catchment area of Rakshastal Lake. This can be achieved by constructing an earth dam at the northern tip of Rakshastal Lake, which is fed by its substantial catchment area and is also connected to Manasarovar Lake.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/groundwater-its-not-source-its-resource|title=Catchment area map of lakes Manasarovar and Rakshastal|work=International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD)|access-date=12 August 2015}}

A proposal in 2018 suggested creating a very large freshwater coastal reservoir in the shallow sea area adjoining the West Bengal, Odisha, and Bangladesh coast by constructing sea dikes, bunds, or causeways up to a depth of 20 meters.{{cite web|title=Efficacy of coastal reservoirs to address India's water shortage by impounding excess river flood waters near the coast (page 49)|url=http://ojs.udspub.com/index.php/jsupp/issue/viewIssue/51/4|access-date=9 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234122/http://ojs.udspub.com/index.php/jsupp/issue/viewIssue/51/4|archive-date=26 July 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=International Association for Coastal Reservoir Research|url=http://iacrr.org/publications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234508/http://iacrr.org/publications|url-status=usurped|archive-date=26 July 2018|access-date=9 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=Coastal reservoirs strategy for water resource development-a review of future trend| date=January 2013 |url=http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2991&context=eispapers|access-date=9 March 2018 | last1=Liu | first1=Jianli | last2=Yang | first2=Shuqing | last3=Jiang | first3=Changbo }}{{cite news |title=Reservoir in sea to end Bengaluru's drinking water problems?|website=The Times of India|date=8 August 2017 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/reservoir-in-sea-to-end-citys-drinking-water-problems/articleshow/59966048.cms|access-date=9 March 2018}} However, this proposal has not been pursued.

The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the Clean Ganga Fund in September 2014, with the aim of using the collected funds for various activities under the Namami Gange program for cleaning the Ganges.

Funds are used to:{{Cite web|url=http://meriganga.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331235735/http://meriganga.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 March 2015|title=Meri Ganga {{!}} National Ganga Portal|website=meriganga.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-01}}

• Clean up the Ganges
• Set up waste treatment plants
• Conserve biotic diversity of the river
• Develop public amenities
• Activities such as ghat redevelopment, research and development, and innovative projects{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/clean-ganga-fund-rs-66-crore-and-counting/article7596402.ece|title=Clean Ganga Fund: Rs. 66 crore and counting|last=PTI|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-05-01|language=en}}

File:Pollution of Ganga.jpg

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation wing of the National Ganga Council, which was established in October 2016 under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management) Authorities Order 2016. This order dissolved the National Ganga River Basin Authority. The aim is to clean the Ganges and its tributaries in a comprehensive manner.{{cite web|url=http://nmcg.nic.in/about_nmcg.aspx |title=About National Mission for Clean Ganga |publisher=NMCG |date=2011-08-12 |access-date=2016-10-13}} Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the current Union Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Jal Shakti.{{Cite web|agency=TNN|date=Sep 4, 2017|title=Modi Cabinet news: Meet Modi's formidable force in run-up to 2019 general elections |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabinet-rejig-meet-modis-formidable-force-in-run-up-to-2019-general-elections/articleshow/60354407.cms|access-date=2020-10-29|website=The Times of India|language=en}} As of 2025, the mission is facing tax demands from the Income Tax (I-T) Department amounting to Rs 243.74 crore and is in the process of filing appeals.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-18 |title=EXCLUSIVE {{!}} Grappling with I-T notices, Clean Ganga Mission says 'faceless assessment process has made matters more difficult' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/fax-demands-clean-ganga-mission-it-order-revise-returns-9892751/?ref=newlist_hp |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Namami Gange Programme

{{Main|Namami Gange Programme}}

Under the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the Namami Gange Programme was launched in 2014 as a flagship initiative of the Union Government. A budget of ₹20,000 crore was allocated with the objectives of effective pollution abatement, conservation, and rejuvenation of the Ganges.{{Cite web|last=India|first=National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of|title=नमामि गंगे|url=https://nmcg.nic.in/|access-date=2020-10-31|website=National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India|language=en}} Unlike previous projects aimed at cleaning the Ganges, Namami Gange is the most comprehensive river conservation program.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-09-29 |title=Namami Gange Mission Most Comprehensive River Conservation Program, Says PM Modi |url=https://www.india.com/news/india/namami-gange-mission-most-comprehensive-river-conservation-program-says-pm-modi-4156690/ |access-date=2020-10-31 |website=India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News {{!}} India.com |language=en}}

{{Main|Nigamanand}}

In early 2011, a Hindu monk named Swami Nigamananda Saraswati fasted to death, protesting against the pollutive riverbed quarrying of the Ganges in the district of Haridwar, Uttarakhand.{{cite web |url= http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sadhu-dies-after-a-73day-fast-to-save-ganga/159098-3.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110616210803/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sadhu-dies-after-a-73day-fast-to-save-ganga/159098-3.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 16 June 2011 |title=Sadhu dies after a 73-day fast to save Ganga |first=Priyanka |last=Dube |work=ibnlive.in.com |publisher=CNN-IBN |date=14 June 2011 |quote=Swami Nigamanand |access-date=14 June 2011}} Following his death in June 2011, his ashram leader, Swami Shivananda, fasted for 11 days starting on 25 November 2011 to continue the movement. On 5 December 2011, the Government of Uttarakhand issued an order to ban riverbed mining in the Bhogpur and Bishanpur ghats.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/25963-shivanand-breaks-fast-after-forcing-curb-on-ganga-bed-quarrying.html|title=Shivanand breaks fast after forcing curb on Ganga bed quarrying|work=The Pioneer|publisher=CMYK Printech|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516164428/http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/25963-shivanand-breaks-fast-after-forcing-curb-on-ganga-bed-quarrying.html|archive-date=16 May 2012}} According to administration officials, quarrying in the Ganges will now be studied by a special committee, which will assess its environmental impacts on the river and surrounding areas.

G. D. Agrawal was an environmental activist and patron of Ganga Mahasabha, an organization founded by Madan Mohan Malviya in 1905, which demanded the removal of dams on the Ganges.{{cite web|url=http://www.tehelka.com/the-govt-doesnt-care-for-the-issue-prof-gd-agrawal-is-fasting-for/|title='The govt doesn't care for the issue Prof GD Agrawal is fasting for'|work=Tehelka.com|access-date=14 May 2015}} With support from other social activists like Anna Hazare, the then-Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, agreed to Agrawal's demands. Consequently, he called for a National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA) meeting and urged the authorities to utilize the ₹26 billion (US$520M) sanctioned "for creating sewer networks, sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, electric crematoria, community toilets, and development of riverfronts." Agrawal died on 11 October 2018, after being on an indefinite fast since 22 June 2018, demanding that the government act on its promises to clean and save the Ganges.{{cite news |last1=Slater |first1=Joanna |title=Environmental activist fasts to death over fate of India's Ganges River |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/10/12/indian-environmental-activist-fasts-death-over-fate-indias-ganges-river/ |access-date=20 June 2020 |agency=Washington Post}}

Current Proposed Solutions

Several contemporary solutions and policy directions are emerging from recent analyses of the Ganges pollution crisis, aiming to address the complex interplay of industrial, municipal, and ecological factors. One significant proposal focuses on restructuring polluting industries, particularly the dense cluster of tanneries in Kanpur. This shows that merging multiple polluting tanneries into larger entities (“unitization”) is “likely to ameliorate water quality” and could be a more effective market-based approach than traditional regulation, although its usefulness might be tempered by climate change impacts and transaction costs. Complementing industrial strategies, specific interventions for managing other stressors are proposed, such as implementing robust fisheries management tools including “fishing license fee,” ‘fishing closed season,” and “local no-take-zones (NTZs)” to combat overexploitation, a major pressure particularly observed in the lower Ganges reaches. The ongoing analysis of governance structures, weighing the effectiveness of “Centralized versus decentralized cleanup”, also informs the search for more efficient institutional arrangements for pollution management across multiple cities.

Alongside policy and regulatory shifts, technological interventions and enhanced data management form another pillar of proposed solutions. For tackling municipal wastewater, identified as a primary pollution source in many areas, solutions like “reed bed treatment or pre-treatment of wastewaters before discharge” are expressed as viable options, potentially leveraging local resources. Recognizing the limitations of past data collection and access, there is a strong push towards building open, multi-sensor datasets. Platforms like “BlueWater” aim to integrate historical and real-time data from sensors, labs, and even citizen inputs via mobile apps, making it accessible through APIs. This improved data availability is envisioned to enable “AI-researchers to help create decision-support apps” and help authorities better manage pollution events and plan interventions, supported by “widespread, long-term monitoring” across the river basin.

Beyond the previously mentioned strategies, a more sustainable approach to managing the Ganges River basin can include the following measures

• Maintenance of Minimum Ecological Flow: Ensuring at least 51% of the river’s ecological flow is maintained to support its natural self-cleansing abilities. Hydropower projects should be redesigned to accommodate this requirement, with stricter enforcement and penalties for non-compliance.{{cite journal |last1=Srinivas |first1=R. |last2=Singh |first2=Ajit Pratap |last3=Shankar |first3=Divyanshu |title=Understanding the threats and challenges concerning Ganges River basin for effective policy recommendations towards sustainable development |journal=Environment, Development and Sustainability |date=April 2020 |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=3655–3690 |doi=10.1007/s10668-019-00361-0|bibcode=2020EDSus..22.3655S }}
• Sustainable Farming Practices: Encouraging practices like conservation of agriculture, crop rotation, and use of organic fertilizers to minimize pollution and agricultural runoff.
• Recycling Wastewater from Industries: Recycling of wastewater to reduce water diversion from vulnerable ecosystems, minimizes pollution, and provide essential nutrients for farming. Promoting the reuse of partially treated water for non-potable purposes such as agriculture.
• Innovative Sanitation Facilities: Implementation of biodigester toilets to reduce open defecation near the river. These toilets involve processing waste anaerobically, producing methane as a renewable energy source and producing sludge that can be used as manure.
• Reinforcing Sewer Infrastructure: Usage of solar power to augment and maintain existing sewage treatment plants.
• Awareness and Stakeholder Participation: Expanding education on river conservation at primary schooling levels and enhancing stakeholder collaboration, including NGOs, local communities, and government bodies. A significant example of the positive impact of reduced human activity was observed during the lockdown, when biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand concentration was reduced, along with overall water pollution declining to 50%.{{cite journal |last1=Muduli |first1=P. R. |last2=Kumar |first2=A. |last3=Kanuri |first3=V. V. |last4=Mishra |first4=D. R. |last5=Acharya |first5=P. |last6=Saha |first6=R. |last7=Biswas |first7=M. K. |last8=Vidyarthi |first8=A. K. |last9=Sudhakar |first9=A. |title=Water quality assessment of the Ganges River during COVID-19 lockdown |journal=International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology |date=June 2021 |volume=18 |issue=6 |pages=1645–1652 |doi=10.1007/s13762-021-03245-x|pmid=33758592 |pmc=7970803 |bibcode=2021JEST...18.1645M }}

After the National Green Tribunal released a report stating that the amount of faecal coliform bacteria in the water of the Ganges at Prayagraj on the occasion of the 2025 Kumbh Mela is 1400 times above the permissible limit,{{Cite news |title=High levels of fecal bacteria in Sangam waters at Maha Kumbh: Report |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/high-levels-of-fecal-bacteria-in-sangam-waters-at-maha-kumbh-report/articleshow/118369524.cms |access-date=2025-02-28 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} Hindutva hardliner Yogi Adityanath denied that the Ganges is polluted, stating that its water was fit for human consumption. He also slammed the NGT report as an attempt to 'mock' the faith of Hindus.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Namita Bajpai,Shekhar |date=2025-02-12 |title=NGT slams UP govt over polluted Ganga; Yogi says water clean enough to consume |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Feb/19/effort-to-malign-mahakumbh-sangam-waters-clean-enough-to-consume-up-cm-yogi-refutes-cpcb-report |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}

{{portal|Environment}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Yamuna
• Yamuna Action Plan
• Water pollution in India
• Farakka Barrage
• Indian Rivers Inter-link
• Kalpasar Project
• Land reclamation
• Water export
• Electricity sector in India#Solar power
• Ganges Barrage Project
• Geography of Bangladesh
• Geography of Nepal
• List of most-polluted rivers

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{{Reflist}}

• [http://yamunamission.com/ Yamuna Mission]
• [http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/item/51495-ganga-gets-dirtier-by-the-day-as-the-government-dithers.html Ganga gets dirtier by the day as the Government dithers -- Daily Pioneer]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070523012017/http://www.envfor.nic.in/nrcd/ National River Conservation Directorate]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100420055328/http://www.ecofriends.org/ Eco Friends Ganges conservation]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111009030050/http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/GANGA%20ACTION%20PLAN%20PHASE.pdf] - Ganga Action Plan Phase I (June-1985 to 31 March 2000)
• [http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/E_F/Gangaactionplan.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114915/http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/E_F/Gangaactionplan.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }} - Planning Commission Report On Utilization of Funds and Assets Created Through Ganga Action Plan in States Under Gap
• [nmcg.nic.in National Mission for clean Ganga]

{{Social issues in India}}

Category:Water pollution in India

Category:Pollution in India