River Pollution in India

The Delhi government's focus on cleaning up the Yamuna River is part of a larger national effort to rejuvenate the Ganga River and its tributaries, in alignment with the Namami Gange Programme (NGP).

Causes of River Pollution in India

The pollution of India’s rivers is driven by a variety of factors that include industrial activities, agricultural runoff, cultural practices, and climate change.

1. Industrial Pollution

• Industries such as textiles, tanneries, and chemical plants discharge toxic effluents like lead, mercury, arsenic, and other heavy metals into rivers. Prominent examples include Kanpur's Ganga, Delhi's Yamuna, and Jharkhand's Damodar rivers.

• Many industries bypass or misuse Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), diluting waste to meet regulatory standards and allowing harmful pollutants to enter rivers.

2. Agricultural Runoff

• Fertilizers and pesticides from farming contribute to the growth of algal blooms, which harm aquatic life. Rivers like the Sutlej in Punjab are affected by nitrate and phosphate pollution.

• Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana adds ash to rivers via runoff, further degrading water quality.

3. Religious and Cultural Practices

• Practices like idol immersion, cremation rituals, and the disposal of floral offerings pollute rivers. These include harmful substances such as Plaster-of-Paris, toxic paints, and plastic materials, especially in ghats like Varanasi's Ganga.

4. Solid Waste and Plastic Dumping

• India is the world’s largest plastic emitter, with significant amounts of plastic waste entering rivers like Mumbai's Mithi River. Waste dumping from landfills, like Delhi’s Ghazipur, pollutes both groundwater and nearby rivers.

5. Thermal and Radioactive Pollution

• Thermal plants (e.g., Farakka, NTPC) discharge hot water into rivers, disrupting aquatic ecosystems.

• Uranium mining in Jaduguda (Jharkhand) releases radioactive waste, which contaminates nearby rivers and harms aquatic biodiversity.

6. Climate-Related Stress

• Erratic rainfall, low-flow periods, and extreme weather events concentrate pollutants in rivers. These conditions lead to more contaminants being flushed into rivers during heavy rains.

The Namami Gange Programme (NGP)

The Namami Gange Programme is an ambitious national initiative launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to rejuvenate the Ganga River and its tributaries, including the Yamuna. The program focuses on cleaning the rivers, improving water quality, and restoring their ecological health. Its major objectives include pollution abatement, wastewater treatment, afforestation, and the development of riverfronts.

Key Features of NGP

1. Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure: Focused on constructing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to manage wastewater and reduce river pollution.

2. River-Surface Cleaning: Efforts to remove solid waste and pollutants from the river's surface.

3. Afforestation: Planting trees and restoring green cover along riverbanks.

4. Industrial Effluent Monitoring: Enforcing regulations on industrial effluents to protect rivers from toxic discharges.

5. River-Front Development: Creating public spaces along the river to engage local communities and promote eco-tourism.

6. Biodiversity: Enhancing ecological health and supporting the biodiversity of river systems.

7. Public Awareness: Educating citizens on the importance of river conservation through awareness campaigns.

Key Interventions Under NGP

1. Pollution Abatement (Nirmal Ganga): Establishing STPs and reducing industrial and domestic waste discharge into rivers.

2. Improving Ecology and Flow (Aviral Ganga): Restoring the river’s natural flow, enhancing biodiversity, and implementing water conservation measures.

3. Strengthening People-River Connect (Jan Ganga): Promoting community participation and involving local stakeholders in conservation efforts.

4. Facilitating Research and Policy (Gyan Ganga): Encouraging scientific research and supporting evidence-based policies for river management.

Key Achievements of the NGP

• Pollution Abatement: The sewage treatment capacity has surpassed pre-2014 levels by over 30 times.

• Water Quality Improvement: Significant improvements in water quality, as seen in the Ganga's Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels:

  • Uttar Pradesh: BOD reduced from 10-20 mg/l in 2015 to 3-6 mg/l in 2022.

  • Bihar: BOD reduced from 20-30 mg/l in 2015 to 6-10 mg/l in 2022.

  • BOD is a critical indicator of water quality. Lower BOD means cleaner water, as it reflects less organic pollution.

• Biodiversity: The population of the Gangetic River Dolphin has increased, with sightings reported in areas like Bithura to Rasula Ghat and the Babai and Bagmati rivers.

• Global Recognition: The UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) recognized the NGP as one of the Top 10 World Restoration Flagship Initiatives in 2022.

Steps to Mitigate River Pollution

1. Enforce Strict Industrial Regulations

• Implement Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) for industries, ensuring that no untreated water is released into rivers.

• Strengthen the enforcement of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) with real-time monitoring to ensure compliance.

• Imposing strict penalties on industries involved in illegal dumping and pollution.

2. Manage Agricultural Runoff

• Encourage organic farming and sustainable practices that reduce chemical use and prevent runoff.

• Establish vegetative buffer zones along rivers to filter pollutants before they reach water bodies.

• Provide eco-friendly subsidies and incentives for farmers to adopt green practices.

3. Improve Solid Waste Management

• Strengthen waste collection, segregation, and scientific disposal practices.

• Prevent riverbank dumping by constructing fencing and deploying patrolling systems.

• Implement a ban on single-use plastics and enforce it rigorously.

4. Restore River Ecosystems

• Conduct desilting operations to restore natural water flow.

• Protect floodplains from encroachment and implement wetland restoration.

• Promote the establishment of riparian buffers with native vegetation along riverbanks.

5. Use Technology and Innovation

• Leverage AI, IoT sensors, and GIS mapping for real-time pollution monitoring.

• Use drones for detecting illegal dumping and polluting activities.

• Promote water-tech startups to develop innovative solutions for wastewater treatment and river restoration.

Conclusion

The Namami Gange Programme serves as a comprehensive model for river rejuvenation and pollution control, with the Yamuna clean-up aligning with national goals. However, India's river pollution crisis demands a multi-faceted approach—combining industrial regulation, sustainable agriculture, solid waste management, and ecosystem restoration.