Pollution of River Ganga in West Bengal - Problems & Policy Initiatives

Abstract

River Ganga is the National River of India and flows through the different states. It is highly polluted due to discharges of untreated sewage disposal and industrial effluents directly into the river and its tributaries. In West Bengal, various sources of pollution have been identified, contributing to the worsening of water quality of river Ganga. Initially, the paper will discuss major sources of pollution such as, 'municipal wastes', 'dumping untreated waste water into river', 'disposal of wastes in different forms', 'disposal of untreated industrial wastes', 'agricultural wastes', 'wastes from large cattle-shed', 'animal carcasses and human remains', 'day to day human activities in the river' and 'dredging'. The later part of the paper will elaborate various Government's initiative for the protection and conservation of river Ganga like 'Ganga Action Plan I and II'. It will also elaborate measures taken under the policies and the impact of these policies on protection of river Ganga.

Keywords: Ganga, Pollution, Conservation, Protection, Ganga Action Plan