{{Short description|Diaspora of environmental pollution in Indian Ganges}} {{EngvarB|date=June 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} [[File:Funeral on the Ghats.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Funeral [[ghats in Varanasi]]]]
The ongoing [[Water pollution|pollution]] of the [[Ganges]], the largest river in [[India]], poses a significant threat to both human health and the environment.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=The Ganges River is Dying Under the Weight of Modern India |work=[[Newsweek]] |last=Conaway |first=Cameron |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2015/10/02/ganges-river-dying-under-weight-modern-india-375347.html |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=11 April 2017 }}</ref> The river [[Water supply and sanitation in India|supplies water]] to approximately 40% of [[demographics of India|India's population]] across 11 [[States of India|states]]<ref name="HTApr12">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Ganga-receives-2-900-million-ltrs-of-sewage-daily/Article1-842037.aspx|title=Ganga receives 2,900 million ltrs [sic] of sewage daily|work=www.hindustantimes.com|access-date=14 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909164033/http://www.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/ganga-receives-2-900-million-ltrs-of-sewage-daily/article1-842037.aspx}}</ref> and serves an estimated 500 million people—more than any other river in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewaterhub.org/news/ganga-conservation-efforts-inspire-thousands|title=The WaterHub|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203131625/http://www.thewaterhub.org/news/ganga-conservation-efforts-inspire-thousands|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Emily Wax |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/16/AR2007061600461.html |title=A Sacred River Endangered by Global Warming |newspaper=Washington Post |date=17 June 2007 |access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref>
Several initiatives have been undertaken to clean the river, but they have failed to produce significant results.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131214032657/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-11-12/allahabad/43979274_1_yamuna-banks-ganga-and-yamuna-holy-river Ganga, Yamuna banks cleaned] 12 November 2013</ref> After being elected, India's [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] pledged to work on cleaning the river and controlling pollution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sandrp.in/2018/10/16/how-modi-government-went-horribly-wrong-on-ganga-rejuvenation/|title=How Modi government went horribly wrong on Ganga rejuvenation|access-date=17 October 2018|date=2018-10-16}}</ref> Subsequently, in the June 2014 budget, the government announced the ''Namami Gange'' project.<ref name="bp" /> By 2016, an estimated [[Indian rupee|₹]]30 billion (US$460 [[1,000,000|million]]) had been spent on various efforts to clean up the river, with little success.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mohit Dubey |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rti-revelation-rs-3000-crore-spent-on-ganga-clean-up-without-visible-results/articleshow/53502798.cms |title=RTI revelation: Rs 3000 crore spent on Ganga 'clean-up' without visible results |publisher=The Economic Times |date=2 August 2016 |access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref>
The proposed solutions include demolishing upstream dams to allow more water to flow into the river during the dry season, constructing new upstream dams or [[coastal reservoir]]s to provide dilution water during the dry season, and investing in substantial new infrastructure to [[sewage treatment|treat sewage]] and [[industrial wastewater treatment|industrial waste]] throughout the Ganges' catchment area.
Some suggested remedies, such as a coastal reservoir, would be very expensive and would involve significant pumping costs to dilute the pollution in the Ganges.
==Causes== The main causes of water [[Environmental issues in India|pollution]] in the Ganges River are the disposal of human sewage and animal waste, increasing [[population density]], and the discharge of [[industrial waste]] into the river.<ref>{{Citation |last=Wohl |first=Ellen |title=River Pollution |date=2014-09-29 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199363445-0003 |work=Environmental Science |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/obo/9780199363445-0003 |isbn=978-0-19-936344-5 |access-date=2023-02-21|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
===Human waste=== The river flows through 100 cities with populations exceeding 100,000 residents, 97 cities with populations between 50,000 and 100,000 residents, and about 48 towns.<ref name="AFR">{{cite web|url=http://www.africanwater.org/Ganga.htm |title=The Water Page - River Ganga |publisher=African water.org |date=12 December 1996 |access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref> A large proportion of the [[sewage]] with a high [[Biochemical oxygen demand|organic load]] in the Ganges originates from domestic water usage by this population. Three-quarters of all the sewage generated in the northern plains remains completely untreated before being discharged into the Ganges and its tributaries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://graphics.reuters.com/INDIA-RIVER/010081TW39P/index.html |title=The race to save the river Ganges |access-date=22 February 2021}}</ref> Even where effective [[sewage treatment]] plants have been provided, more than half are either not operating at all or not operating efficiently.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chaturvedi|first=A|date=2017|title= Fixing India's Sewage Problem|publisher= Stanford Social Innovation Review|pages= 3–4|doi=10.48558/JDQ6-EC26 | url=https://doi.org/10.48558/JDQ6-EC26 |access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref> A review in 2022 indicated that only 37% of the 72,368 million liters per day (ML/D) of sewage generated is treated.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344922001331|title=Perceived drivers and barriers in the governance of wastewater treatment and reuse in India: Insights from a two-round Delphi study|date=July 2022 |doi=10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106285 |access-date=11 June 2024 |last1=Breitenmoser |first1=Lena |last2=Cuadrado Quesada |first2=Gabriela |last3=N |first3=Anshuman |last4=Bassi |first4=Nitin |last5=Dkhar |first5=Nathaniel Bhakupar |last6=Phukan |first6=Mayuri |last7=Kumar |first7=Saurabh |last8=Naga Babu |first8=Andraju |last9=Kierstein |first9=Anjin |last10=Campling |first10=Paul |last11=Hooijmans |first11=Christine Maria |journal=Resources, Conservation and Recycling |volume=182 |bibcode=2022RCR...18206285B |doi-access=free }}</ref>
===Industrial waste=== There are numerous industrial cities on the banks of the Ganges, such as [[Kanpur]], [[Prayagraj]], [[Varanasi]], and [[Patna]], along with [[tanneries]], [[chemical plant]]s, [[textile mill]]s, [[distilleries]], [[slaughterhouse]]s, and [[hospital]]s. These cities and facilities actively contribute to the river's pollution by dumping untreated waste into it.<ref name="ELAWJan01">{{cite web|url=http://www.elaw.org/node/858|title=Sacred Ganga Carries Toxic Pollution|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414112514/http://elaw.org/node/858|archive-date=14 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
One [[coal power plant|coal-based power plant]] on the banks of the Pandu River, a Ganges tributary, burns 600,000 tons of coal each year and produces 210,000 tons of [[fly ash]]. The ash is dumped into ponds, where a slurry is filtered, mixed with domestic wastewater, and then released into the Pandu River. Fly ash contains toxic [[heavy metals]] such as lead and copper. The concentration of copper in the Pandu River, before it even reaches the Ganges, is a thousand times higher than in uncontaminated water.<ref name="HTApr12" />
[[Industrial effluent|Industrial effluents]] account for about 12% of the total volume of waste reaching the Ganges. Although this is a relatively low proportion, it is a major concern because these effluents are often toxic and non-biodegradable.<ref name="HTApr12" /> Plastic and industrial waste, including wastewater from factories on the banks of the Ganges, are also significant sources of pollution. The most alarming issue facing the river is its increasing lack of water, which is being used for irrigation faster than it can be replenished.
===Religious traditions=== Owing to the [[Ganga (goddess)|sacred status of the river]] in [[Hinduism]], over 70 million [[Hindus|Hindu]] people bathe in the Ganges to cleanse themselves of their past sins, during festive seasons.<ref name="MSNJan07">{{cite web |title=Hindus pilgrims bathe in Ganga - World news - South and Central Asia - NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16447201 |access-date=14 May 2015 |work=NBC News|date=3 January 2007 }}</ref> Some materials, such as food, waste, and leaves, are left in the river, contributing to its pollution.
In the Hindu [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|holy city]] of [[Varanasi]] alone, an estimated 40,000 bodies are cremated each year and deposited into the Ganges. Because many families cannot afford the high cost of sufficient quantities of cremation wood, many of the bodies placed in the river are only half-burnt.<ref name="autogenerated1">Wohl, Ellen E. 2012. A world of rivers: environmental change on ten of the world's great rivers. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.</ref>
==Dams and pumping stations== Built in 1854 during [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British rule]] in India, the [[Haridwar]] Dam has contributed to the decay of the Ganges by significantly reducing the river's flow.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Remove-dams-encroachments-to-clean-Ganga-Ram-Bihari/articleshow/46681566.cms|title=Remove dams & encroachments to clean Ganga|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=25 March 2015 |access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref> The [[Farakka Barrage]] was initially constructed to divert fresh water into the [[Hooghly River]] but has since increased salinity in the Ganges, adversely affecting groundwater and soil along the river.<ref name="AFR"/> The barrage has caused major tension between Bangladesh and India, with Bangladesh actively considering the construction of the [[Ganges Barrage Project]] to address the salinity issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thethirdpole.net/2015/12/03/bangladesh-seeks-indian-cooperation-to-build-4-billion-ganges-barrage/|title=Bangladesh seeks Indian cooperation to build $4 billion Ganges barrage|access-date=14 February 2016|date=2015-12-03}}</ref> Despite a government-commissioned green panel report recommending the cancellation of 34 proposed dams due to environmental concerns, the Indian government plans to construct about 300 dams on the Ganges and its tributaries in the near future.<ref name="IBNApr12">{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/300-dams-on-the-ganga-a-bane-or-a-boon/250311-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422080303/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/300-dams-on-the-ganga-a-bane-or-a-boon/250311-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 2012|title=300 dams on the Ganga: A bane or a boon?|work=IBNLive|access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref>
Three additional dams across the Ganges River are located at [[Bijnor]], [[Narora]], and [[Kanpur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/WwL1rDan74LzKzLyPjGFkK/CPCB-says-there-is-need-to-regulate-withdrawal-of-water-from.html|title=CPCB says there is need to regulate withdrawal of water from Ganga|access-date=24 December 2015|date=2015-12-23}}</ref> The dams at Bijnor and Narora divert all the water, including [[baseflow|base flow]]s during the dry season, to canals for irrigating areas up to [[Allahabad]] city. Flow upstream of the Kanpur barrage is used during the dry season for the drinking water supply of cities.<ref>{{Cite news|date=6 May 2013|title=Contaminated water a curse for people|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Contaminated-water-a-curse-for-people/articleshow/19904126.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705115513/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Contaminated-water-a-curse-for-people/articleshow/19904126.cms|archive-date=5 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Downstream of the Kanpur dam, adequate water volumes are unavailable during the dry seasons of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=184100|title= Centre notifies minimum environmental flows for River Ganga|access-date=11 October 2018}}</ref>
Several pumping stations are located on the banks of the Ganges downstream of the Kanpur barrage, serving the region's irrigation needs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Headworks_(Dam,_Barrage,Weir,_Anicut,_Lift)|title=list of head works (Dams,_Barrages, Weirs, Anicuts, Lifts) on Ganga river|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921052447/http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Headworks_(Dam,_Barrage,Weir,_Anicut,_Lift)|archive-date=21 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
These large pump houses are situated at the following coordinates:
* Rukunpur: 26°10′21″N 80°38′57″E * Kanjauli Kachhar: 25°17′37″N 82°13′15″E * Hakanipur Kalan: 25°12′57″N 83°01′15″E * Bhosawali: 25°20′46″N 83°10′11″E * Shekpur: 25°32′13″N 83°11′57″E * Chochakpur: 25°28′55″N 83°25′11″E * Lamui: 25°23′20″N 83°32′11″E * Chausa: 25°31′11″N 83°54′04″E
These irrigation facilities pump out most of the base flows from the main river downstream of Kanpur city.
To keep the Ganges flowing and dilute polluted water inflows from habitations and industries, a minimum [[environmental flow]] of at least 5,000 [[cusec]]s is required from Narora to Farakka during the eight-month-long dry season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/942-dams-barrages-in-ganga-basin-preventing-rejuvenation-environmentalists/66791620|title= 942 dams, barrages in Ganga basin preventing rejuvenation: Environmentalists|access-date=25 November 2018}}</ref> This could be achieved by constructing storage reservoirs with a capacity of 100 [[Tmcft]] across the Ganges' tributaries upstream of Narora city and reserving the stored water solely for minimum environmental flows.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2019/39/special-articles/cleaning-ganga.html|title= Cleaning the Ganga|journal= Economic and Political Weekly|date= 5 June 2015|volume= 54|issue= 39|pages= 7–8|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref>
Additionally, a series of cascading dam bridges should be constructed across the river from Kanpur to [[Allahabad]] to increase the surface area of impounded polluted water and serve as [[Stabilization pond|natural oxidation ponds]]. The goal is for the accumulated pollutants to be washed away during the annual monsoon floods. Several dams are already planned between Farakka and [[Allahabad]] as part of the [[National Waterway 1]] project, which aims to make the 1,620 km stretch of the river navigable from [[Haldia]] to Allahabad and could potentially be extended up to Kanpur.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thewire.in/2016/04/06/ganga-waterways-project-raises-hopes-and-fears-27834/|title=Ganga Waterways Project Raises Hopes and Fears|access-date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
==Statistics== A 2006 measurement of pollution in the Ganges revealed that river water monitoring over the previous 12 years had shown [[fecal coliform]] counts of up to 100,000,000 MPN per 100 mL<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hamner |first1=Steve |last2=Tripathi |first2=Anshuman |last3=Mishra |first3=Rajesh Kumar |last4=Bouskill |first4=Nik |last5=Broadaway |first5=Susan C. |last6=Pyle |first6=Barry H. |last7=Ford |first7=Timothy E. |date=2006-04-01 |title=The role of water use patterns and sewage pollution in incidence of water-borne/enteric diseases along the Ganges river in Varanasi, India |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09603120500538226 |journal=International Journal of Environmental Health Research |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=113–132 |doi=10.1080/09603120500538226 |issn=0960-3123 |pmid=16546805|bibcode=2006IJEHR..16..113H |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and [[biological oxygen demand]] levels averaging over 40 mg/L in the most polluted part of the river at Varanasi. The overall rate of water-borne disease incidence, including acute gastrointestinal diseases, was estimated to be about 66%.<ref name="IJEHR06">Hamner S, Tripathi A, Mishra RK, Bouskill N, Broadaway SC, Pyle BH, Ford TE. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16546805 "The role of water use patterns and sewage pollution in incidence of water-borne/enteric diseases along the Ganga river in Varanasi, India."], ''International Journal of Environmental Health Research'', Montana, USA, 2006 Apr 16.</ref>
A systematic classification by the [[Uttarakhand]] Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) categorized river waters into four categories: A (safe for drinking), B (safe for bathing), C (safe for agriculture), and D (excessive pollution). The Ganges was classified in category D. [[Coliform bacteria]] levels in the Ganges have also been tested at 5,500 MPN per 100 mL, a level too high to be considered safe for agricultural use, let alone for drinking or bathing.<ref name="Daftuar">{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/kids/article2292290.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=Swati | last=Daftuar | title=Polluted flows the Ganga | date=25 July 2011}}</ref>
The leather industry in [[Kanpur]], which employs around 50,000 people in more than 400 tanneries, uses chemicals such as toxic [[chromium]] compounds. Despite the establishment of a common treatment plant in 1995, chromium levels in the Ganges have not decreased and now exceed the recommended maximum level by more than 70 times.<ref name="AFP2010">{{Cite web |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h_73xOTuToBSIQEuL9Hd3lklQkJw |title=Indians keep faith with Ganga despite pollution |access-date=27 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127202234/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h_73xOTuToBSIQEuL9Hd3lklQkJw |archive-date=27 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
A study conducted by the National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP) under the [[Indian Council of Medical Research]] in 2012 suggested that "those living along its banks in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], and [[West Bengal|Bengal]] are more prone to cancer than anywhere else in the country."<ref name="TOI2012Oct">{{cite web|author=Anirban Ghosh |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ganga-is-now-a-deadly-source-of-cancer-study-says/articleshow/16842966.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523221431/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-17/india/34524382_1_cancer-patients-prostate-cancer-national-cancer-institute |url-status=live |archive-date=23 May 2013 |title=Ganga is now a deadly source of cancer, study says |date=17 October 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref>
In 2020, a study showed that the levels of toxic heavy metals in the Ganges had significantly improved in recent years. This study was supported by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/oct/08/ganga-river-much-cleaner-than-its-tarnished-image-study-2207618.html|title=Ganga river much cleaner than its tarnished image: Study|date=8 October 2020 }}</ref>
==Effects==
===Marine life=== The results of [[Mercury (element)|mercury]] analysis in various specimens collected along the basin indicated that some fish muscles accumulated high levels of mercury, with approximately 50-84% of it being organic mercury. A strong positive correlation was found between mercury levels in muscle tissue and both food habits and fish length.<ref name="EMA11">Moumita Pal, Santinath Ghosh, Madhumita Mukhopadhyay, Mahau Ghosh. Ganga and Yamuna. [https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10661-011-2193-5 "Methyl mercury in fish—a case study on various samples collected from Ganga river at West Bengal."], ''Environmental Monitoring and Assessment'', 8 June 2011.</ref>
The [[Ganges river dolphin]] is one of the few species of freshwater dolphins in the world. Listed as endangered, its population is believed to be less than 2,000. Hydroelectric and irrigation dams along the Ganges, which prevent the dolphins from traveling up and down the river, are considered the main reason for their declining numbers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/gangesriverdolphin/gangesriverdolphin.html |title=Ganga River Dolphin|work=World Wildlife Fund |access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref>
The [[Ganges softshell turtle]] (''Nilssonia gangetica'') is found in the Ganges, Indus, and Mahanadi river systems of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. This turtle inhabits deep rivers, streams, large canals, lakes, and ponds with beds of mud or sand. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this turtle species is vulnerable.<ref name=":1" /> Due to their long lifespan and high trophic level in the aquatic food web, these turtles are particularly susceptible to heavy metal pollution, a major issue in the Ganges.<ref>Malik, R. N., Ghaffar, B., & Hashmi, M. Z. (2013). Trace metals in Ganges softshell turtle (aspideretes gangeticus) from two barrage: Baloki and rasul, pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 20(11), 8263-73. {{doi|10.1007/s11356-013-1805-8}}</ref>
===Wildlife=== Some of the dams being constructed along the Ganges basin will submerge substantial areas of nearby forest. For example, the Kotli-Bhel dam at Devprayag will submerge 1,200 hectares of forest, destroying the forest ecosystem and its wildlife.<ref name="HTApr12" />
===Humans=== An analysis of Ganges water in 2006 and 2007 revealed significant associations between water-borne diseases and the use of the river for bathing, laundry, washing, eating, cleaning utensils, and brushing teeth.<ref name="IJEHR06"/> Water from the Ganges has been linked to dysentery, cholera, hepatitis,<ref name="ELAWJan01"/> and severe diarrhea, which remains one of the leading causes of death among children in India.<ref name="care2">{{cite web|url=http://www.care2.com/causes/saving-the-ganges.html|title=Problems and Solutions for the Ganga River|access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref> <blockquote> During the summer and monsoon, hospital wards teem with children who need treatment for [[waterborne diseases]] - but according to S.C. Singh, a paediatrician at Varanasi [[Shiv Prasad Gupta|Shiv Prasad Gupta Hospital]], their parents rarely mention that they have been swimming in the river. They don't appear to have made the connection, he says.<ref>{{cite web | last = Naskar | first = Sudhiti | title = The river where swimming lessons can be a health hazard | work = BBC News | access-date = 4 July 2014 | date = 1 July 2014 | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28112403 }}</ref> </blockquote>
==Cleanup efforts== ===Ganga Mahasabha=== The [[Ganga Mahasabha]] is an Indian organization dedicated to the Ganges, founded by [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]] in 1905. After a long struggle, British India agreed on 5 November 1914 to the Ganga Mahasabha's request, recognizing that the uninterrupted flow of the Ganges is a fundamental right of Hindus. This day is known as "Aviral Ganga Samjhauta Divas" (Uninterrupted Ganga Flow Agreement Day) in Indian history. The agreement, known as the Agreement of 1916, came into effect on 19 December 1916. Despite its legal validity, the sanctity of the agreement has not been upheld by the state and central governments of India after independence. Increasingly, river water is diverted for irrigation use, exacerbating pollution and strain on the river.
=== Ganga Action Plan === [[File: The Ganga Canal Dried for Cleaning the River Bed.png|thumb|Ganges canal dried for cleaning]]
The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched by [[Rajiv Gandhi]], then [[Prime Minister of India]], in June 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/GANGA%20ACTION%20PLAN%20PHASE.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009030050/http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/GANGA%20ACTION%20PLAN%20PHASE.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-10-09 |access-date=2023-12-28 |title=GANGA ACTION PLAN PHASE-I|website=Ganga Action Plan.pdf}}</ref> It covered 25 Class I towns (6 in Uttar Pradesh, 4 in Bihar, and 15 in West Bengal),<ref name="Namami Gange Programme">{{Cite web|url=http://nmcg.nic.in/NamamiGanga.aspx |title=Namami Gange Programme|website=nmcg.nic.in |access-date=2017-05-01}}</ref> with {{INR}}862.59 crore spent. The main objective was to improve water quality through the interception, diversion, and treatment of domestic sewage and to prevent toxic and industrial chemical wastes from identified polluting units from entering the river. The other objectives of the GAP are as follows:<ref name=":2" /> *Control of non-point source pollution from human defecation, cattle wallowing, and the disposal of human remains in the river. *Research and development to conserve the biotic diversity of the river and enhance its productivity. *Development of sewage treatment technologies, such as Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB), and sewage treatment through afforestation. *Rehabilitation of soft-shelled turtles to aid in pollution abatement. *[[Resource recovery]] options, such as methane production for energy generation and the use of aquaculture for revenue generation. *To serve as a model for similar action plans in other heavily polluted stretches of rivers. *The ultimate objective of the GAP is to adopt an integrated river basin management approach, considering the various dynamic interactions between abiotic and biotic ecosystems.
Despite some delays in completing the first phase of the GAP, it has generated considerable interest and laid the groundwork for developing a national approach to replicating this program for other polluted rivers in the country. The Government of India proposed to extend this model with suitable modifications at the national level through the National River Action Plan (NRAP). The NRAP draws on the lessons learned and experiences gained from the GAP, as well as seeking input from State Governments and other concerned Departments and Agencies. Under the NRCP scheme, the CPCB conducted river basin studies and identified 19 polluted stretches and 14 less polluted stretches along 19 rivers, including 11 stretches along 7 rivers in Madhya Pradesh.
Phase II covered 59 towns across five states, with more than ₹5.053 billion spent. Rivers such as the Yamuna, Gomti, Damodar, and Mahananda had separate action plans.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-to-extend-ganga-action-plan-to-major-rivers/article6221158.ece|title=Govt to extend Ganga action plan to major rivers|last=PTI|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-05-01|language=en}}</ref>
=== National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) === {{Main|National Ganga River Basin Authority}} The National Ganges River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was established by the Central Government of India on 20 February 2009 under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It declared the Ganges as the "National River" of India.<ref name="NRGBA">{{Cite web |url=http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/index.html |title=National River Ganga Basin Authority |access-date=18 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007130424/http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/index.html |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The chair of the NGRBA includes the [[Prime Minister of India]] and the [[Chief Minister (India)|chief ministers]] of the states through which the Ganges flows.<ref name="NGRBATeam">{{Cite web |url=http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/PolicyMaking.html |title=Composition of NGRBA. |access-date=18 April 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710071911/http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/PolicyMaking.html |archive-date=10 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2011, the [[World Bank]] approved $1 billion in funding for the NGRBA.<ref name = "treehuggerjune2011">{{cite web| last = McDermott| first = Matt| title = World Bank Approves $1 Billion For Ganga River Cleanup| work = TreeHugger| access-date = 4 July 2014| date = 1 June 2011| url = http://www.treehugger.com/clean-water/world-bank-approves-1-billion-for-ganges-river-cleanup.html}}</ref>
=== 2010 Government clean-up campaign === In 2010, it was announced that "the Indian government has embarked on a $4 billion campaign to ensure that by 2020 no untreated municipal sewage or industrial runoff enters the 1,560-mile river."<ref name = "wsj">{{Cite news | last = Pokharel | first = Krishna | title = India's Holy Ganges Gets a Cleanup: Government Embarks on $4 Billion Campaign to Treat Heavily Polluted Waters; Devout Hindus Revere River as 'Goddess' | work = [[Wall Street Journal]] | access-date = 4 July 2014 | date = 13 February 2010 | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704878904575031333129327818 }} </ref> A World Bank spokesman described the plan in 2011, saying:
<blockquote> Earlier efforts to clean the Ganges concentrated on a few highly polluting towns and centres and addressed 'end-of-the-pipe' [[wastewater treatment]] there; Mission Clean Ganga builds on lessons from the past, and will look at the entire Gangetic basin while planning and prioritising investment instead of the earlier town-centric approach.<ref name = "treehuggerjune2011" /> </blockquote>
The lobby group Sankat Mochan Foundation (SMF) "is working with GO2 Water Inc., a [[Berkeley, California]]-based wastewater technology company," to design a new [[sewage treatment]] system for Varanasi.<ref name = "wsj" />
The [[Supreme Court of India]] has been working on the closure and relocation of many industrial plants, such as Tulsi, along the Ganges. In 2010, the government declared the stretch of river between Gaumukh and [[Uttarkashi]] an [[Eco-Sensitive Zone|eco-sensitive zone]].<ref name="Daftuar"/>
===Namami Gange Programme=== {{main|Namami Gange Programme}} In the budget presented in [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] on 10 July 2014, Union Finance Minister [[Arun Jaitley]] announced an integrated Ganges development project titled "Namami Gange" (meaning 'Obeisance to the Ganges River') and allocated ₹2,037 [[crore]] for this purpose.<ref name="bp">{{cite web|title=Namami Ganga development Project gets 2037 crores |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/07/namami-ganga-development-project-gets-2037-crores/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref> The objectives were the effective abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of the Ganges. The project covers 8 states. The Ministry of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation proposed to make 1,674 gram panchayats along the Ganges open defecation-free, at a cost of ₹1,700 crore (central share). An estimated ₹2,958 crore ([[United States dollar|US]]$460 million) had been spent by July 2016 on various efforts to clean up the river.
As part of the program, the Government of India ordered the shutdown of 48 industrial units around the Ganges.<ref>{{cite news|title=48 industrial units polluting Ganga asked to close down|url=http://www.patrika.com/news/48-industrial-units-polluting-ganga-asked-to-close-down/1017955|access-date=15 July 2014|work=Patrika Group|date=15 July 2014}}</ref>
The program had a budget outlay of ₹20,000 crore for the next five years, marking a significant five-fold increase over the expenditure of the past 30 years (the Government of India incurred approximately ₹4,000 crore on this task since 1985). The central government will now cover 100% of the funding for various projects under this program. Learning from the unsatisfactory results of earlier Ganges Action Plans, the central government plans to provide operation and maintenance assets for a minimum of 10 years and adopt a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) approach for addressing pollution hotspots.
In an attempt to bolster enforcement, the central government also plans to establish a four-battalion Ganges Eco-Task Force. The program emphasizes improved coordination mechanisms between various ministries and agencies of the central and state governments. It includes major infrastructure investments that fall under the original mandates of other ministries. Additionally, Urban Development (UD), Drinking Water & Sanitation (DWS), and Environment, Forests & Climate Change (EF&CC) will also be involved in the program.
"Namami Gange" will focus on pollution abatement interventions, primarily through the interception, diversion, and treatment of wastewater flowing through open drains. The program will employ bio-remediation, appropriate in-situ treatment, innovative technologies, sewage treatment plants (STPs), and effluent treatment plants (ETPs). It aims to rehabilitate and augment existing STPs and implement immediate short-term measures to prevent pollution at river exit points and prevent the inflow of sewage.
Significantly, the approach is notable for the socio-economic benefits it is expected to deliver, including job creation, improved quality of life, and health benefits for the vast population that depends on the river.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=121638|title=Approval to Namami Gange - Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission / Programme under National Ganga River Basin Authority}}</ref>
The main pillars of Namami Gange Programme are: # Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure # River-Front Development # River-Surface Cleaning # Bio-Diversity # Afforestation # Public Awareness # Industrial Effluent Monitoring # Ganga Gram
=== Namami Gange Mission-II === With the success of the Namami Gange Programme, the Government of India allocated ₹22,500 crore for Namami Gange Mission-II, which aims to provide further maintenance of the Ganges, with funds allocated until 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.ETInfra.com |title=Budgetary outlay for Namami Gange Mission-II Rs 22,500 cr till 2026 - ET Infra |url=https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/water/budgetary-outlay-for-namami-gange-mission-ii-rs-22500-cr-till-2026/97913118 |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=ETInfra.com |language=en}}</ref> From FY 2014–15 through 31 January 2023, the government provided the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) with a total of ₹14,084.72 crore. Of that amount, the NMCG has allocated ₹13,607.18 crore to state governments, state missions for cleaning the Ganges, and other organizations for the implementation of projects related to the rejuvenation of the river.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luthra |first=Swati |date=2023-02-13 |title=Namami Gange Mission-II approved with budgetary outlay of ₹22,500 cr till 2026 |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/namami-gange-mission-ii-approved-with-budgetary-outlay-of-rs-22-500-cr-till-2026-11676289486061.html |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NAMAMI GANGE MISSION-II APPROVED WITH A BUDGETARY OUTLAY OF RS.22,500 CRORE TILL 2026 |url=https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1898802 |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
===Ganga Manthan=== Ganga Manthan was a national conference held to discuss issues and possible solutions for cleaning the river.<ref>[https://nmcg.nic.in/AboutGangaManthan.aspx Ganga Manthan]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/ganga-manthan-tomorrow-national-meet-to-debate-over-river-cleaning/|title=Ganga Manthan tomorrow: National meet to debate over river cleaning|date=6 July 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref>
The conference aimed to gather feedback from stakeholders and prepare a roadmap for rejuvenating the Ganges. The event was organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on 7 July 2014 at [[Vigyan Bhawan]] in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-national-meet-on-ganga-cleaning-to-be-held-tomorrow-2000080|title=National meet on Ganga cleaning to be held tomorrow|work=dna|access-date=14 May 2015|date=2014-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Pollution-in-holy-river-to-be-discussed-in-Ganga-Manthan/articleshow/37562938.cms|title=Pollution in holy river to be discussed in 'Ganga Manthan'|work=The Times of India|date=July 2014 |access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref>
====Nepal to release water during lean flow period====
Nepal has constructed many barrages (excluding joint projects with India) and pump houses to divert river flows during the lean season for irrigation purposes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thethirdpole.net/2016/03/17/will-china-invest-in-nepals-hydropower-plants/|title= Existing and planned hydro dams in Nepal|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> These water diversion projects are located near the following coordinates: {{Coord|28|25|29|N|81|22|49|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|28|02|24|N|81|57|12|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|27|52|51|N|82|30|13|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|27|40|00|N|83|06|49|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|27|42|17|N|84|25|57|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|27|08|11|N|85|29|01|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|26|53|09|N|86|08|13|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, {{Coord|26|50|13|N|87|09|01|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}, and {{Coord|26|41|05|N|87|52|43|E|type:landmark_region:NP}}. As a lower riparian state, India has the right to claim a share of the river water flows from Nepal, similar to the river water sharing agreements India has with Bangladesh, which recognizes Bangladesh as a lower riparian state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cwc.gov.in/sites/default/files/legal_instruments_4.pdf|title= River water sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh (pages 116 to 120)|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref> Currently, there is no bilateral agreement between India and Nepal for [[The Helsinki Rules on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers|equitable sharing of river waters]] during the lean season. When Nepal releases water into India during this period, it would help in cleaning and diluting the polluted waters of the downstream Ganges River up to the Farakka Barrage.
====Water diversion from Manasarovar lake==== [[Image:Mt Kailash sat.jpg|thumb|A satellite view of the Manasarovar (right) and Rakshastal lakes with [[Mount Kailash]] in the background]] Restoring the minimum environmental flows is challenging due to the difficulty of identifying nearly 100 Tmcft of storage reservoirs in the hilly region of the Ganges basin in India, as the river flows through steep valleys. Large storage reservoirs like [[Tehri Dam|Tehri]] and [[Ramganga Dam|Ramganga]] have already been constructed at feasible locations. However, water from [[Manasarovar Lake]] could be diverted to the [[Mabja Zangbo]] River, a tributary of the Karnali River in China, to reach upstream of the Kanpur Barrage (117 m [[mean sea level|msl]]) via Girijapur Barrage (129 m msl) located at {{Coord|28|16|21|N|81|05|09|E|type:landmark_region:IN-UP}} across the [[Ghaghara]]/Karnali River, which is a tributary of the Ganges flowing from [[Tibet]] and Nepal.<ref name=poly/>
Manasarovar Lake has a surface area of {{convert|320|km2}} and a maximum depth of {{convert|90|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It holds more than 100 [[Tmcft]] of water in its top 13 meters. Currently, it overflows into the nearby [[Lake Rakshastal]], a landlocked saltwater [[endorheic basin|endorheic lake]]. The annual water inflows from the catchment area of Manasarovar Lake, located at {{convert|4,590|m}} above mean sea level, can be diverted by gravity to the [[Karnali River]] basin in China through a 15-kilometer long tunnel.<ref name=poly/>
The continuously diverted water can be used in China for hydroelectric power generation, where the available head drop exceeds 800 meters over a 40-kilometer stretch. This would be a joint project involving China, Nepal, and India to control river water pollution and ensure the Ganges flows throughout the year. With the diversion of water from Manasarovar Lake to the Ganges basin, Lake Rakshastal would become a [[soda lake]] with increased water salinity, which could be useful for extracting water-soluble chemicals on a commercial scale.<ref name=poly/>
The freshwater inflows into Manasarovar Lake can be significantly increased by gravity diversion from the major [[Drainage basin|catchment area]] of Rakshastal Lake. This can be achieved by constructing an [[earth dam]] at the northern tip of Rakshastal Lake, which is fed by its substantial catchment area and is also connected to Manasarovar Lake.<ref name=poly>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/groundwater-its-not-source-its-resource|title=Catchment area map of lakes Manasarovar and Rakshastal|work=International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD)|access-date=12 August 2015}}</ref>
====Utilisation of Ganges and Brahmaputra flood waters to fight pollution in all rivers of India====
A proposal in 2018 suggested creating a very large freshwater [[coastal reservoir]] in the shallow sea area adjoining the [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]], and [[Geography of Bangladesh|Bangladesh coast]] by constructing sea [[Levee|dikes]], bunds, or [[causeway|causeways]] up to a depth of 20 meters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Efficacy of coastal reservoirs to address India's water shortage by impounding excess river flood waters near the coast (page 49)|url=http://ojs.udspub.com/index.php/jsupp/issue/viewIssue/51/4|access-date=9 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234122/http://ojs.udspub.com/index.php/jsupp/issue/viewIssue/51/4|archive-date=26 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=International Association for Coastal Reservoir Research|url=http://iacrr.org/publications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234508/http://iacrr.org/publications|url-status=usurped|archive-date=26 July 2018|access-date=9 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Coastal reservoirs strategy for water resource development-a review of future trend|url=http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2991&context=eispapers|access-date=9 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Reservoir in sea to end Bengaluru's drinking water problems?|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=8 August 2017 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/reservoir-in-sea-to-end-citys-drinking-water-problems/articleshow/59966048.cms|access-date=9 March 2018}}</ref> However, this proposal has not been pursued.
== Clean Ganga Fund == The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the Clean Ganga Fund in September 2014, with the aim of using the collected funds for various activities under the Namami Gange program for cleaning the Ganges.
Funds are used to:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://meriganga.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331235735/http://meriganga.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 March 2015|title=Meri Ganga {{!}} National Ganga Portal|website=meriganga.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-01}}</ref>
* Clean up the Ganges * Set up waste treatment plants * Conserve biotic diversity of the river * Develop public amenities * Activities such as ghat redevelopment, research and development, and innovative projects<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/clean-ganga-fund-rs-66-crore-and-counting/article7596402.ece|title=Clean Ganga Fund: Rs. 66 crore and counting|last=PTI|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-05-01|language=en}}</ref>
===National Mission for Clean Ganga=== [[File:Pollution of Ganga.jpg|thumb|Pollution in the Ganges]]
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation wing of the National Ganga Council, which was established in October 2016 under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management) Authorities Order 2016. This order dissolved the National Ganga River Basin Authority. The aim is to clean the [[Ganges]] and its tributaries in a comprehensive manner.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://nmcg.nic.in/about_nmcg.aspx |title=About National Mission for Clean Ganga |publisher=NMCG |date=2011-08-12 |access-date=2016-10-13}}</ref> [[Gajendra Singh Shekhawat]] is the current Union Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Jal Shakti.<ref>{{Cite web|agency=TNN|date=Sep 4, 2017|title=Modi Cabinet news: Meet Modi's formidable force in run-up to 2019 general elections |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabinet-rejig-meet-modis-formidable-force-in-run-up-to-2019-general-elections/articleshow/60354407.cms|access-date=2020-10-29|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> As of 2025, the mission is facing tax demands from the [[Income Tax Department|Income Tax (I-T) Department]] amounting to Rs 243.74 crore and is in the process of filing appeals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-18 |title=EXCLUSIVE {{!}} Grappling with I-T notices, Clean Ganga Mission says ‘faceless assessment process has made matters more difficult’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/fax-demands-clean-ganga-mission-it-order-revise-returns-9892751/?ref=newlist_hp |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
====Namami Gange Programme====
{{Main article|Namami Gange Programme}}
Under the National Mission for Clean Ganga, the Namami Gange Programme was launched in 2014 as a flagship initiative of the Union Government. A budget of ₹20,000 crore was allocated with the objectives of effective pollution abatement, conservation, and rejuvenation of the Ganges.<ref>{{Cite web|last=India|first=National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of|title=नमामि गंगे|url=https://nmcg.nic.in/|access-date=2020-10-31|website=National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India|language=en}}</ref> Unlike previous projects aimed at cleaning the Ganges, Namami Gange is the most comprehensive river conservation program.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-09-29 |title=Namami Gange Mission Most Comprehensive River Conservation Program, Says PM Modi |url=https://www.india.com/news/india/namami-gange-mission-most-comprehensive-river-conservation-program-says-pm-modi-4156690/ |access-date=2020-10-31 |website=India.com - India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News |language=en}}</ref>
==Protests in favor of cleaning the Ganges==
===Nigamanand=== {{Main|Nigamanand}} In early 2011, a Hindu monk named [[Nigamanand|Swami Nigamananda Saraswati]] fasted to death, protesting against the pollutive riverbed quarrying of the Ganges in the district of [[Haridwar]], [[Uttarakhand]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sadhu-dies-after-a-73day-fast-to-save-ganga/159098-3.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110616210803/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sadhu-dies-after-a-73day-fast-to-save-ganga/159098-3.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 16 June 2011 |title=Sadhu dies after a 73-day fast to save Ganga |first=Priyanka |last=Dube |work=ibnlive.in.com |publisher=[[CNN-IBN]] |date=14 June 2011 |quote=Swami Nigamanand |access-date=14 June 2011}}</ref> Following his death in June 2011, his [[ashram]] leader, Swami Shivananda, fasted for 11 days starting on 25 November 2011 to continue the movement. On 5 December 2011, the [[Government of Uttarakhand]] issued an order to ban riverbed mining in the Bhogpur and Bishanpur ghats.<ref name="PioneerDec2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/25963-shivanand-breaks-fast-after-forcing-curb-on-ganga-bed-quarrying.html|title=Shivanand breaks fast after forcing curb on Ganga bed quarrying|work=[[The Pioneer (newspaper)|The Pioneer]]|publisher=[[CMYK Printech]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516164428/http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/25963-shivanand-breaks-fast-after-forcing-curb-on-ganga-bed-quarrying.html|archive-date=16 May 2012}}</ref> According to administration officials, quarrying in the Ganges will now be studied by a special committee, which will assess its environmental impacts on the river and surrounding areas.
===G. D. Agrawal===
[[G. D. Agrawal]] was an environmental activist and patron of [[Ganga Mahasabha]], an organization founded by [[Madan Mohan Malviya]] in 1905, which demanded the removal of dams on the Ganges.<ref name="TOIMar12">{{cite web|url=http://www.tehelka.com/the-govt-doesnt-care-for-the-issue-prof-gd-agrawal-is-fasting-for/|title='The govt doesn't care for the issue Prof GD Agrawal is fasting for'|work=Tehelka.com|access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref> With support from other social activists like [[Anna Hazare]], the then-[[Prime Minister of India]], [[Manmohan Singh]], agreed to Agrawal's demands. Consequently, he called for a National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA) meeting and urged the authorities to utilize the [[Indian rupee|₹]]26 billion ([[United States dollar|US]]$520M) sanctioned "for creating sewer networks, sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, electric crematoria, community toilets, and development of riverfronts."<ref name="HTApr12"/> Agrawal died on 11 October 2018, after being on an indefinite fast since 22 June 2018, demanding that the government act on its promises to clean and save the Ganges.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Slater |first1=Joanna |title=Environmental activist fasts to death over fate of India's Ganges River |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/10/12/indian-environmental-activist-fasts-death-over-fate-indias-ganges-river/ |access-date=20 June 2020 |agency=Washington Post}}</ref>
== Denial == After the [[National Green Tribunal]] released a report stating that the amount of [[fecal coliform]] bacteria in the water of the Ganges at [[Prayagraj]] during the [[2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela|2025 Kumbh Mela]] was 1,400 times above the permissible limit,<ref>{{Cite news |title=High levels of fecal bacteria in Sangam waters at Maha Kumbh: Report |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/high-levels-of-fecal-bacteria-in-sangam-waters-at-maha-kumbh-report/articleshow/118369524.cms |access-date=2025-02-28 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister [[Yogi Adityanath]] denied that the Ganges was polluted, stating that its water was "clean enough to consume." He dismissed the report as an attempt to malign the event.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Namita Bajpai |last2=Shekhar |date=2025-02-12 |title=NGT slams UP govt over polluted Ganga; Yogi says water clean enough to consume |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Feb/19/effort-to-malign-mahakumbh-sangam-waters-clean-enough-to-consume-up-cm-yogi-refutes-cpcb-report |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== {{portal|Environment}} {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * [[Yamuna]] * [[Yamuna Action Plan]] * [[Water pollution in India]] * [[Farakka Barrage]] * [[Indian Rivers Inter-link]] * [[Kalpasar Project]] * [[Land reclamation]] * [[Water export]] * [[Electricity sector in India#Solar power]] * [[Ganges Barrage Project]] * [[Geography of Bangladesh]] * [[Geography of Nepal]] * [[List of most-polluted rivers]] {{div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://yamunamission.com/ Yamuna Mission] * [http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/item/51495-ganga-gets-dirtier-by-the-day-as-the-government-dithers.html Ganga gets dirtier by the day as the Government dithers -- Daily Pioneer] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070523012017/http://www.envfor.nic.in/nrcd/ National River Conservation Directorate] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100420055328/http://www.ecofriends.org/ Eco Friends Ganges conservation] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20111009030050/http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NGRBA/GANGA%20ACTION%20PLAN%20PHASE.pdf] - Ganga Action Plan Phase I (June-1985 to 31 March 2000) * [http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/E_F/Gangaactionplan.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114915/http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/E_F/Gangaactionplan.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }} - Planning Commission Report On Utilization of Funds and Assets Created Through Ganga Action Plan in States Under Gap * [nmcg.nic.in National Mission for clean Ganga]
{{Social issues in India}}
[[Category:Water pollution in India]] [[Category:Pollution in India]]