A brand new report, launched by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), has discovered that the Ganga river water quality did not improve during the coronavirus illness (COVID-19)-induced lockdown interval. The river’s water quality had worsened in many stretches, the analysis suggested.
The water quality of Ganga, Beas, Chambal, Sutlej and Swarnarekha did not comply with the primary water quality criteria for outdoor bathing, the pollution watchdog said in a report released on the occasion of its 46th Founders’ Day. The Ganga’s compliance with primary water quality reduced from 64.6 % to 46.2% during the lockdown. According to the report, Assessment of Impact of Lockdown on Water Quality of Major Rivers, the quality of water in seven of the 19 rivers monitored by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) improved during the lockdown period. The CPCB said it had asked the SPCBs to assess the water quality of Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, Beas, Brahmaputra, Baitarani, Brahmani, Cauvery, Chambal, Ghaggar, Mahanadi, Mahi, Pennar, Sabarmati, Sutlej, Swarnarekha and Tapi.
Twenty SPCBs participated in the assessment. Water samples collected from the 19 rivers were analysed for parameters like pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Fecal Coliform (FC). The results were then compared with the Primary Water Quality Criteria for Outdoor Bathing notified under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
“Water quality has not improved during the lockdown period in case of five rivers which are Beas (reduced from 100 to 95.45 per cent), Chambal (reduced compliance to the criteria limits from 75 to 46.15 per cent), Ganga (reduced compliance to the criteria limits from 64.6 per cent to 46.2 per cent), Sutlej (reduction in compliance from 87.1 to 78.3 per cent) and Swarnarekha (reduction in compliance from 80 to 53.33 per cent),” the report said.
The report attributed the worsening report card of the Ganga river to the discharge of untreated or partially handled sewage; a negligible or dry seasonal flow that will increase the focus of air pollution and no contemporary water discharges from the upstream. Compliance was additionally decreased in Beas, Chambal, Sutlej and Swarnarekha rivers.
The Ganges originates within the northernmost part of Uttarakhand, flows via Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal and at last falls into the Bay of Bengal. The complete size of the river is 2,525 kilometres (km) earlier than it discharges into the Bay of Bengal.
