Bihar’s Ganga In Peril: Faecal Contamination Reaches Dangerous Levels

Holy Ganga River, highly religious and cultural to millions of Indians in India, is facing severe pollution onslaught in Bihar. Recent water quality analysis has indicated extremely high levels of faecal bacteria making the river unsafe for bathing in the majority of the state’s locations. The finding has raised serious concerns over public health, environmental degradation, and the imperative of taking urgent river conservation steps.

Water Quality Reports Indicate High Contamination

According to recent reports from the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), water samples collected from multiple locations along the Ganga in Bihar have shown extremely high levels of coliform bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli. The bacteria are faecal indicators, and their presence in polluted water is potentially hazardous to those in contact with contaminated water.

The pollution monitoring data shows that in urban areas such as Patna, Bhagalpur, and Munger, the coliform content is far greater than the acceptable levels of the World Health Organization and the Bureau of Indian Standards. Water is considered safe for bathing if coliform bacteria levels are below 500 MPN (Most Probable Number) per 100 millilitres. However, in several places, the contamination level has crossed 5,000 MPN per 100 ml, rendering the water unsafe even for bathing, let alone drinking.

Key Factors Contributing to Ganga’s Pollution in Bihar

The increasing pollution of the Ganga in Bihar can be attributed to several key factors:

1. Unregulated Discharge of Sewage
   • Bihar’s large urban centres, such as Patna, do not have proper sewage treatment facilities. With few exceptions, most untreated sewage from houses and businesses flows directly into the river.
   • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has repeatedly raised concerns about the failure of municipal corporations to establish effective sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Bihar.
2. Industrial Effluents
   • Several industrial units along the banks of the Ganga discharge chemical waste and toxic pollutants directly into the river without proper treatment.
   • Tanneries, textile mills, and pharmaceutical units contribute to water contamination by releasing heavy metals and harmful chemicals.
3. Open Defecation and Solid Waste Dumping
   • Despite government efforts like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, open defecation remains a problem in rural areas along the Ganga.
   • Waste from livestock and improper disposal of human excreta lead to high levels of faecal contamination.
   • Uncontrolled dumping of plastic waste, religious offerings, and cremation remains further exacerbates the pollution crisis.
4. Agricultural Runoff
   • Fertilizers and pesticides used in agricultural fields near the riverbanks eventually find their way into the river, leading to nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms.

Health Risks Associated with Contaminated Ganga Water

Bathing in or consuming contaminated water from the Ganga poses serious health risks, particularly in Bihar, where many people rely on the river for daily activities. Some of the key health concerns include:

• Waterborne Diseases: Excessive amounts of coliform bacteria lead to diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis.
• Skin Infections: People who bathe in polluted water often develop skin rashes, fungal infections, and other dermatological issues.
• Respiratory Problems: The inhalation of aerosolized bacteria from the river can cause respiratory infections, particularly among children and the elderly.
• Long-Term Health Impacts: Prolonged exposure to contaminated water can result in long term health problems, including liver and kidney damage over time.

Government Initiatives and Their Limitations

The Indian government has initiated a series of projects to purify the Ganga, such as the ambitious Namami Gange Programme, to enhance sewage treatment, reduce industrial pollution, and foster sustainable river management. But in Bihar, their implementation has encountered many barriers:

• Slow Progress on Sewage Treatment Plants: Most of the STPs in Bihar are either in the process of being constructed or remain non-functional, resulting in the ongoing dumping of untreated sewage into the river.
• Lack of Stringent Industrial Regulation: Environmental regulations are weakly enforced, and most industries continue to violate pollution standards.
• Poor Waste Management Infrastructure: Collection and disposal structures for waste in Bihar’s towns are poor, and garbage is rampantly dumped into the Ganga.

Public Awareness and Role of Civil Society

To improve the health of the Ganga, participation by citizens is as meaningful as governmental action. In Bihar, NGOs, environmentalists, and local organizations are raising awareness of pollution control and water conservation. Some of the key initiatives are:

• River Cleanup Drives: Periodically, organizations make cleanup efforts to clear the riverbanks of contaminants, including plastic garbage.
• Educational Campaigns: Environmental studies are being applied in schools and colleges more and more to educate children about the importance of safeguarding river ecosystems.
• Legal Actions: Environmentalists have filed petitions in courts to hold polluters accountable and push for stricter implementation of anti-pollution laws.

Solutions for a Cleaner Ganga in Bihar

To tackle the pollution crisis effectively, a multi-pronged approach is required:

1. Strengthening Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure
   • Speeding up the construction and operationalization of STPs in key cities along the Ganga.
   • Ensuring that all industrial and municipal wastewater is treated before being discharged into the river.
2. Strict Enforcement of Environmental Laws
   • Implementing heavy fines and penalties on industries and municipalities that fail to comply with pollution control norms.
   • Conducting regular monitoring and inspections to ensure adherence to environmental regulations.
3. Encouraging Sustainable Agricultural Practices
   • Favoring organic cultivation and minimizing the application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to avert agricultural runoff.
4. Community-Led Conservation Efforts
   • Promoting grass-roots involvement of local communities in taking charge of river protection through grass-roots organizations for waste control and pollution management.
5. Reviving Traditional Water Management Systems
   • Exploring traditional water conservation methods such as rainwater harvesting and floodplain management to maintain natural water quality.

The Bottom Line

Bihar’s Ganga degradation is a severe environmental and public health emergency that needs immediate attention. Despite initiating government initiatives, regulatory loopholes and implementation inefficiencies have hindered their effectiveness. The government, corporate world, civil society, and local populace need to be involved in solving the problem. Bihar can make a big leap towards reviving the sanctity of the Ganga and offering its people a healthy future by imposing strict pollution prevention acts, investing in better garbage management facilities, and creating public awareness.