The Ganges River, flowing across India and Bangladesh, holds immense cultural and historical significance, serving as a lifeline for over 500 million people. This revered waterway faces severe pollution challenges that threaten human health and the environment. Addressing this widespread contamination is complex, given the dense populations along its banks and the diverse sources contributing to its degradation.
Types and Sources of Pollution
The Ganges River is burdened by many pollutants, primarily untreated human sewage. Approximately 75% of all sewage generated in the northern plains remains untreated before being discharged into the Ganges and its tributaries, with an estimated five billion liters flowing into the river daily. Industrial waste, while accounting for about 12% of the total, introduces highly toxic and non-biodegradable substances. Factories, including tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, and distilleries in cities like Kanpur, contribute significantly, often releasing untreated effluents containing heavy metals like chromium.
Plastic waste is a significant problem, with the Ganges system identified as the second-largest plastic polluting catchment globally, discharging over 0.12 million tons into marine ecosystems annually. Studies indicate that between one and three billion microplastic particles are pumped into the Bay of Bengal daily by the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers combined. This includes macroplastics like discarded fishing gear, plastic bottles, and packaging. These break down into microplastics, threatening aquatic life. Agricultural runoff, laden with fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, further exacerbates pollution by increasing nutrient loads and introducing toxic chemicals. Organic waste from animal carcasses and partially burned human remains from funeral pyres also contribute to the river’s pollution.
Consequences of Pollution
Pollution in the Ganges River has severe repercussions for the environment and human health. Degraded water quality harms aquatic ecosystems, leading to a decline in biodiversity. Hypoxic “dead zones,” spanning approximately 600 kilometers, exhibit low or depleted oxygen levels, making them unable to sustain aquatic life. This impacts native fish species and endangers iconic animals like the Ganges River dolphin and softshell turtles.
For human populations, health implications are profound, with communities facing a high incidence of waterborne diseases. Cholera, hepatitis, typhoid, and amoebic dysentery are common, and consumption of contaminated water or fish can also lead to neurological and digestive diseases, and even some cancers. The Central Pollution Control Board reported in 2019 that the river’s faecal coliform levels were three to 12 times higher than permissible limits in many areas, rendering the water unfit for direct drinking. The presence of “superbugs,” bacteria resistant to common antibiotics, has also been detected, posing an additional public health threat.
Religious and Cultural Context
The Ganges River holds deep spiritual significance for millions, particularly within Hinduism, where it is revered as the goddess Ganga, or “Mother Ganges.” Many devotees believe that bathing in its waters can cleanse sins and lead to spiritual purification. Pilgrimage sites along the river, such as Varanasi, draw millions who engage in ritual bathing, especially during festivals.
Traditional religious practices, while deeply ingrained, also contribute to the river’s pollution. The immersion of idols, offerings of flowers and food, and the disposal of cremated or partially cremated human remains are common practices. For example, an estimated 40,000 bodies are cremated annually in Varanasi, with ashes and sometimes unburnt remains entering the river. The belief in the river’s self-purifying qualities can also lead to a perception that it can withstand any pollution, influencing human interaction with the waterway.
Conservation and Cleanup Efforts
Many initiatives address Ganges River pollution, involving government and non-governmental organizations. The Indian government’s flagship “Namami Gange Programme,” launched in 2014, aims to reduce pollution and rejuvenate the river through various interventions. This program, with an allocated budget of approximately $2.5–3 billion from 2014 to 2026, focuses on constructing and upgrading sewage treatment plants (STPs), monitoring industrial effluents, and developing riverfronts.
Efforts include building new sewerage infrastructure and improving existing facilities to ensure wastewater is treated before discharge. The program also promotes public awareness campaigns, such as “Ganga Utsav” and “Ganga Quest,” to encourage community participation in river conservation. Non-governmental organizations, like the Sankat Mochan Foundation (SMF), have been active for decades, working on water quality monitoring, environmental education, and advocating for effective sewage treatment systems. Collaborations between NGOs and international groups, such as OzGreen, support local activities including providing safe drinking water programs and removing solid waste from riverbanks.