The Ganga at Varanasi and a travail to stop her abuse

Abstract

Ganga, the holiest of Indian rivers is highly polluted near many cities on its banks. The problem of pollution at Varanasi as at many other places, is due to sewage inflow, industrial waste, animal carcasses, unclaimed human bodies, plastic bags, etc. The biochemical oxygen demand is as high as 20 mg/l and faecal coliform counts is around 1.5 million/100 ml at downstream end of the city. This article deals with the most appropriate cost-effective technical solution. The efforts due to the Sankat Mochan Foundation and its Swatcha Ganga campaign have not fructified so far, even after more than two decades, due to apathy and prejudices of the executive. Our universities and professional bodies have to take a pro-active lead, be it cleaning rivers, environment or other spheres.