LEX ALLIANCE FOUNDATION CLEAN GANGA PROJECT

MA GANGA

subcontinent flowing east Through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. The river has immense religious significance and considered as the holy river of the Hindus. The Ganges, above all is the river of India, which has held India's heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. River Ganga is one of the major rivers of the India.

importance

The upper Ganges supplies water to extensive irrigation works. The Ganga has a lot of fertile soil and is an important source of the agricultural activities in India and Bangladesh. The chief crops cultivated in the area include rice, sugarcane, lentils, oil seeds, potatoes, and wheat. Along the banks of the river, the presence of swamps and lakes provide a rich growing area for crops such as legumes, chilies, mustard, sesame, sugarcane, and jute. Recharges the ground water all along its flow, improves the fertility of a lot of farmland through its silt, provides the habitat for hundreds of diverse life forms, etc. Fishing also provides opportunities to many along the river. Tourism is another related activity. Three towns holy to Hinduism – HaridWar, Allahabad, and Varanasi – attract thousands of pilgrims to its waters. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims arrive at these three towns to take a dip in the Ganges, which is believed to cleanse oneself of sins and help attain salvation. The GANGAJAL (water of the Ganga) is traditionally claimed to have bactericidal, health promoting, non-putrefying and purifying properties.

THREATS TO GANGA OVER EXTRACTION OF WATER DUE TO Indiscriminate damming up of water. Encroachment of flood plains particularly in urban stretches. Conversion of flood plains into real estates and other land uses. POLUTION

Over extraction of water Water withdrawal poses a serious threat to the Ganges. In India, barrages control all of the tributaries to the Ganges and divert roughly 60% of river flow to large-scale irrigation. Indiscriminate damming Encroachment of flood plains particularly in urban stretches. Conversion of flood plains into real estates and other land uses.

human induced activities pollutant Through domestic usage like bathing, laundry and public defecation. Countless tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals contribute to the pollution of the Ganges by dumping untreated toxic and non-biodegradable waste into it. causes flood havocs during monsoon, massive erosion due to monsoon flows, and Loss of riparian ecosystems and massive reduction in flood plains.

Religious events During festival seasons, over 70 million people bathe in the Ganges over a few weeks to cleanse themselves from their sins. Some materials like food, waste or leaves are left in the Ganges for ritualistic reasons.

COLIFORM BACTAREA The Ganga River is mainly polluted because of the presence of fecal coliform bacteria, a certain subgroup of coliform present in warm blooded animals. Drinking water with high fecal coliform counts can lead to pathogenic diseases, including typhoid, viral and bacterial gastro-enteritis, ear infections and hepatitis.

FAILURE OF GANGA ACTION PLAN wastage of Rs 916 crore, not to mention the wastage of time between 1986 to 2009

POOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM THE LACK OF EFFECTIVE DRAINAGE SYTEM IS THE MAJOR DISASTER FACTOR.

IDENTIFY THE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS OBJECTIVE AWARENESS PROGRAMS IDENTIFY THE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS WETLAND DEVELOPMENT IMMERSION CONTROL PLANTATION

IDENTIFY THE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS explore the drainage systems and the extent of raw sewage entering into the river through drainage system

WETLAND DEVELOPMENT . Development of wetlands along the drainage system that carries sewage.

PLANTATION protect river from pollution and encroachments massive time-bound plantation program on the banks of the river.

AWARENESS PROGRAMS To organize environmental awareness program for the local community and train them for sustainable utilization of wetlands/ greenways for self employment such as fisheries etc. forming Citizens Committees in the villages, cities and pilgrim centers' on her banks.

IMMERSION CONTROL IMMERSION OF ASTHIES BESIDE OTHER SUBSTANCES IMMERSION does not only pollute the river but also cause several diseases to the people using its water. Earlier, immersing idols was not a problem as the materials used in making the idols were all natural and puja was a community affair. But now, nothing apart from the mud that goes into making an idol is NATURAL AND VARIOUS HEAVY METALS LIKE manganese, lead, mercury, and chromium are discharged along with the idols. To assist the people coming from all over the country as also abroad for immersion of the Asthis.  

The number of villages along the bank of the river will be mapped ACTION PLAN One segment of river will be selected The number of villages along the bank of the river will be mapped   PUBLIC AWARENESS PLANTATION & FORESTATION

PUBLIC SUPPORT ENVIORMENTAL AWARENESS PROGRAMMES IN WHICH LOCAL PUBLIC WILL BE TRAINED FOR EXPLORING SELF EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMES BY UTILIZATION OF WETLANDS. Intercepting untreated municipal sewage and industrial wastewater flowing into river and diverting to sewage treatment plant. Construction of bathing Ghats/toilets to eliminate open defecation in river bank. Solid waste management systems to prevent dumping of solid wastes in the river. Setting up Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) in the cities lying along the river for treatment of sewage and wastewater with suitable technologies for the standards for river discharge and letting treated effluent into river. Construction of bio gas/electrical crematoriums in the river bank. Local communities (youth/farmers) would be involved in the construction of wetlands and greenways plans to create solid waste systems, eco-friendly toilets, clean water facilities, relocation of haphazard constructions that encroach on the rivers and the temples, tree plantation programs, and ways to reduce vehicular congestion and pollution

PLANTATION & FORESTATION Developing, renovating and beautifying India’s sacred pilgrimage areas along Ganga and Her tributaries to make them truly “green” pilgrimage destinations, such as the Char Dham. In this line, also “greening” the actual routes to reach these sacred areas, with the belief that the environment along the journey to the holy places is just as sacred and just as important to protect as the sacred area itself. To develop Greenways by massive plantation of native economically important species for prevention of soil erosion and stabilization of banks

CONCLUSION The utility, aesthetic and religious value of the natural ecology of the Ganga & of the Himalaya is invaluable. A viral & Nirmal Ganga freely and permanently meets various water requirements of people on its banks, recharges the ground water all along its flow, improves the fertility of a lot of farmland through its silt, provides the habitat for hundreds of diverse life forms, etc. As Country is in midst of massive urbanization coupled with predictive threats of Climate changes and global warming, this approach not only rejuvenate river Ganga and improve the socio-economic status of the local peoples, but it will also provide long- term eco-friendly eco-technological option for sustainable management and conservation of water, and repository of flora and fauna as well.

Thank You Lex Alliance Foundation (Lex Alliance Foundation is a non-governmental organization founded in 2012 to address unmet needs of the Society. The NGO is registered under Section 25 of The Companies Act 1956.)