Rejuvenating The Ganga

Water, especially fresh river water, has been the cradle of the civilization and has led to both the birth & downfall of human settlements. To see a worthy example of the importance of the rivers in any civilization we need not see any further than the Great Ganga - a historically revered water body across the ages in India.

But the Ganga, as the world knows it, is slowly losing its identity; one of the major reasons for this being industrialization.

Ganga - More than just a river:
Ganga is one of nature's finest spectacles and a sight to behold. Those who have visited this mighty river have never left without being awed by its majesty and grandeur. The river has flown in all its glory since thousands of years giving birth to innumerable stories and scriptures around it.

Sadly, these very cities that the Ganga gave birth to, have contributed to its tragic downfall.

The Ganga is dying a slow and visibly painful death.

Ganga - The Problems:
One of the biggest problems is the pollution and it is not surprising. Take any major river around the world and you will see it facing similar issues.

Toxic is the right word when it comes to defining the current condition of water of Ganga. And the reason for it is not too difficult to find.

One of the obvious reasons being the domestic and industrial sewage that is being released uninhibitedly every day into the river waters. With so many industries flourishing around Ganga it is was only a matter of time before this happened.

Another reason that has contributed greatly to the pollution of Ganga are the rituals performed at its bank; immersing the ashes of a dead person being one of them.

But that's not all. If you think human beings are the only ones affected by this, you are wrong.

The polluted water has led to the depletion and in many cases extinction of the freshwater flora and fauna. To get the idea of how bad the situation is sample this. There are only four species of river Dolphins left in the world and one of them happens to be in Ganga and it has been declared endangered.

Over fishing is another menace plaguing Ganga. The river is a hunting ground for fishermen. But the fishermen too cannot be blamed for it as there is hardly any other alternative way of earning their livelihood.

Solutions for cleaner Ganga:
The solutions to these problems need to be implemented in a planned manner which must be pursued with strong dedication over a long period of time.

"The immediate step to take would be minimizing the pollution of the water. The river bank needs to be stabilised by carrying out activities like plantation. Laws must be put in place specifically for industries around Ganga so as to minimize the damage to the river." Says Mr. Arun Lakhani, MD Vishvaraj Infrastructure and leading authority on waste water management.

Another method is to bring in private partners in this cleanliness drive. They must be engaged through partnerships of varying types. Thanks to the advancements in water conservation technology there are now methods available to ensure the preservation of this great river.

We now come to the most important component of the solution, people.

An awareness must be inculcated in people about how their actions (and inactions) are hurting the Ganga. By making these very people a part of the solution will go a long way in ensuring a cleaner Ganga.

They must be encouraged to inculcate civic habits that improve the quality of Ganga's surroundings. The dependence of fishermen on Ganga should be minimised by providing them an alternative source of livelihood.

The cleaner Ganga movement has gained a lot of momentum. We must stop viewing Ganga as a part of a particular community but rather as a source of national pride.

This should be looked at as preserving a national heritage that cuts across the lines of faith and unites people. Hence, it must be considered as a duty of every Indian to contribute towards it.