Ganga River

BY – Leandro Rhythm Shiv Patel. GANGA RIVER PROJECT.

Analysis. Lessons learned. Introduction. Problematic Events.

Introduction. The Ganges, also known as the Ganga, is one of the holiest rivers in Hinduism and an essential source of water for millions of people in India. This importance goes beyond the water issue, as in many cities in India this river is used in cultural and religious rituals. This river is over 2500 km long, and its course passes through two countries, India and Bangladesh. It is one of the largest rivers in Asia in terms of water flow, its basin covers an area of approximately one million km², directly and indirectly supplying 400 million people, being the most densely populated in the world..

Problematic Events. In a research it was found that 260 million litres of industrial waste are added to this by hundreds of factories along the rivers banks. Municipal sewage constitutes 80 per cent by volume of the total waste dumped into the Ganga, and industries contribute about 15 percent. The majority of the Ganga pollution is organic waste, sewage, trash, food, and human and animal remains. Over the past century, city populations along the Ganga have grown at a tremendous rate, while waste-control infrastructure has remained relatively unchanged. Recent water samples collected in Varanasi revealed fecal coli form counts of about 50,000 bacteria per 100 millilitres of water, 10,000% higher than the government standard for safe river bathing. The result of this pollution is an array of water-borne diseases including cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and amoebic dysentery. An estimated 80% of all health problems and one-third of deaths in India are attributable to water-borne diseases..

Problematic Events. Lazaro (2020) Experts link pollution in the Ganga and other rivers to India's high rate of waterborne illnesses, which kill an estimated 1.5 million children each year. Researchers have also discovered the emergence of so-called superbugs in Ganges water samples, bacteria resistant to most commonly used antibiotics..

Trends. The pollution of the Ganga river has resulted in several problematic events, including deteriorating water quality, loss of biodiversity, and negative impacts on human health and livelihoods. The frequency and magnitude of these problematic events have increased over time due to factors such as population growth, industrialization, and agricultural practices One of the most significant trends is the deterioration of water quality, which has declined over time due to the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial waste into the river. The frequency of pollution incidents has increased, and the magnitude of these events has become more severe, resulting in high levels of pollutants and reduced dissolved oxygen levels in the river. This has led to negative impacts on aquatic life, including fish kills and loss of biodiversity..

A picture containing diagram. Trends. Ganga River.

Overview. The Ganges River receives flow from several sources. Pollutants such as heavy metals, chemicals and untreated water are accumulated in the river, which results in water pollution and affects the entire ecosystem. The problematic event in this system map is river pollution, which causes health problems for the population and the entire ecosystem that surrounds the river. Such pollution can lead to the accumulation of toxins in aquatic life foods, which are subsequently consumed by humans, leading to health problems. The stock and flow system map for Ganges River untreated wastewater illustrates how inputs from urban and industries can contribute to river pollution, which can have significant negative impacts on the surrounding ecosystem and the people who depend on the river for their livelihood. To mitigate these negative impacts, it is crucial to prioritize sustainable waste management practices and continue efforts to clean up the river..

Map Description automatically generated. Overview.

Analysis – Root cause. One of the main root causes of the problem is the various untreated wastewater around the river that dump their waste irregularly. The presence of many substances in the river results in the degradation of water quality and the loss of biodiversity. The root causes of problematic events in the Ganga River pollution are systemic and complex and require a comprehensive approach to address. Any and all efforts to address the problem must involve a huge combination of measures and regulatory measures, public awareness campaigns and technological solutions to reduce the release of toxic and untreated waste into the river ..

Ganga River. Ganga River Pollution Iceberg Chart Events Ganga River is one of ttk rnost pdl•.ned rive and most commm reasM18 •e: 1. I-htreated 2. AyicaAnrel runoff. 3. than wutewæer. 01 02 Patterns of behaviors System Structure Mental Models Decline in Water Quality Sectors affected by the pdlMion: 1 . Public health 2. Agriculture 3. Fesheries 4. Tot.risrn Flow of Elements using Polluted watE for Rigation and agriculture is me of the worst parts as it affects all living things and is very health dangerotn In the end. one factor affects all the oth« eignents of natue Industrial Pollution The main chemicals which is polkJting rivers are: 2. Arsenic 3. Tanning.

The GAP. Lack of political will: Despite numerous efforts and plans, the cleaning of the Ganga river has been delayed due to a lack of political will. Inadequate funding: The funds allocated for the cleaning of the Ganga river have been inadequate, leading to delayed progress and incomplete projects. Poor implementation: Even though there have been several initiatives launched for cleaning the Ganga, many of them have not been implemented properly due to corruption, bureaucratic delays, and lack of coordination among various agencies involved. Lack of public participation: The success of any clean-up project depends on public participation. However, in the case of the Ganga, there has been a lack of awareness among the general public, and people have not been actively involved in the cleaning efforts. Industrial pollution: The Ganga river basin is home to many industries that discharge their waste directly into the river, leading to severe pollution. Despite regulations in place, many industries continue to violate the norms, leading to delayed progress in cleaning the river. Inadequate infrastructure: The infrastructure required for cleaning the Ganga river, such as sewage treatment plants and solid waste management systems, is inadequate in many areas, leading to delays in the cleaning process. Addressing these gaps is crucial for the successful cleaning of the Ganga river. It requires concerted efforts from the government, industries, and the general public to ensure effective implementation of plans and projects..

Lesson learned. Ganga is a very long river that passes through several different regions and countries, the river is a source of livelihood for thousands of people and also for companies that survive on water for their production. The high pollution of the river can cause serious problems that already exist but that can expand in alarming proportions and put the lives of millions of people at risk. Taking care of this river is of vital interest to the local population..

Lesson learned. Despite the effort and commitment, what can be seen is that the efforts and work carried out are not generating the expected result and the river is still very polluted, the government should try to make public policies of better quality so that it can improve the quality of the water and also make treatment more effective, build new sewage and water treatment stations, equip and train teams to get better results, seek new technologies and outside knowledge to add value and quality to results, try to raise awareness as much as possible the local population and industries about the real situation of the river and how harmful it is for everyone to live with a polluted and poorly maintained river..