A recent map published by CPCB on Ganga water quality has revealed that water in Majority of the stretches in Ganga river is so polluted that it is even unfit for bathing.
Background:
In July 2018, National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to display a prominent map showing where the river water was fit for bathing and drinking.
The NGT bench said that “If cigarette packets can contain a warning, why not the people be informed of the adverse effects of the river water.”
CPCB Map:
Subsequently, CPCB released a Map in August 2018 in which it dotted the length of the Ganga with red markers.
Criteria: CPCB used the criteria of dissolved oxygen (more than 6 mg/litre), bio-chemical oxygen demand (less than 2 mg/litre), total coliform levels (5000 most probably number per 100 ml) and pH (range between 6.5 to 8.5) to assess the health of the river.
Finding: Apart from stretches in Uttarakhand and a couple of places as the river enters Uttar Pradesh that are marked in green (fit), the CPCB has indicated that the river is unfit for drinking and bathing the whole way till it drains into the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal (except one spot at the UP-Bihar Border).
Comment: The development comes at a time when the Centre has claimed that the Namami Gange project, with a budget of ₹20,000 crore, has achieved considerable success.
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
