RED ALERT: Ganga Before and After Kanpur

 The Lord is so kind that He has spread the river Ganges throughout the universe so that by taking bath in that holy river everyone can get released from the reactions of sins , which occur at every step.- Srimad Bhagavatam (3.5.41), in Srimad-Bhagavatam – Prabhupada

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The flow of the River Ganga through Uttar Pradesh. Static Map made by Harshit Mansukhani/ Excel 2016-Bing Maps

I , Ganga together with 100s of my tributaries have been the source of physical and spiritual nourishment of Indian civilization for centuries. Throughout the ages, people of this vast land have held me as a Divine Body and my waters as a sacred purifier.

I’m not only the holiest of rivers and purifiers, but I’m also a living goddess that millions worship and find their salvation in. Many call me –  “Namami Gange” (Mother Ganga), many want to breathe their last breath on my banks, I provide food and living to millions of people living on my banks for centuries.

It’s true what Lord Krishna has said on behalf of me, “among things that purify, I’m THE WIND; of the wielders of weapons, I’m RAMA; of the water creatures, I’m THE CROCODILE; and of rivers, I’m GANGA.”

IRONY, ever since the turn of centuries I’ve got been neglected by the identical those who worship me. As per a report by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2013 Domestic sewage is that the major reason behind contamination within the river.

According to the CPCB, 2,723 million liters every day (MLD) of sewage is generated by 50 cities located along my course, which adds up to over 85% of the river’s pollution load.

The key problem comes from most cities on my course. The 36 cities contribute 90 % of the wastewater generation.

Pollutions levels between Devprayag and Dakhineswar

 

Kanpur has 5000 plus industries with 75 medium and huge industries of fertilizers, detergents, chemicals, and paint.

Another potential danger is from 367 strong leather industries located in one area Jajmau area of Kanpur along my course.

These highly polluting leather industries pose a serious threat to water quality, the ecology of the river Ganga. (ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR KANPUR CITY, 2011)

The State Pollution board which periodically monitors the water quality of the town at various points studied the water quality at designated sites in March 2016 with specific parameters.. (ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR KANPUR CITY, 2011)

Also, the extent of fecal and coliform bacteria in my waters in Kanpur as measured by the UP Pollution control board (UPPCB) is several hundred times higher than the permissible limit. Fecal coliform bacteria are found in untreated sewerage.

The higher the extent, more the presence of the disease-causing pathogen in water. According to the April 2019 UPPCB report, the five most active bacteria were detected in Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj.

 

Developments under NMCG in Kanpur

Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj- are the biggest cities of the state and therefore the largest contributors to my pollution. (Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, 2019)

Dhabka Ghat is one of the four major drains that carry toxic water to my banks from 400 tanneries of Jajmau. As an initiative under the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1986, all these drains were connected to four intermediate pumping stations that flush this toxic water to a common effluent treatment plant at Wajidpur.

This CETP plant features a capacity to treat just 9 MLD of commercial wastewater and 27 MLD of sewage.

Also, due to lack of vision, infrastructure and urban planning that was conceived in 1986, GAP could serve only 175 tanneries in Kanpur and could treat nine MLD effluents. Under GAP 40 MLD of industrial effluent was flowing into my waters between 1986 and 2014.