Environmental Pollution in India Essential Question: What are the causes of pollution in India?

Ganges River—Tremendous Pollution The Ganges river, also called "Mother Ganga" has been worshiped in India for more than 2000 years as the symbol of spiritual purity. However, the physical purity of the river has suffered greatly from pollution. According to different scientific studies pollution is taking heavy toll on Ganges river and 300 million gallons of waste go into the Ganges each day, causing terrible effects. The amount of sewage being dumped into the Ganges has more than doubled since the 1990's, and some studies suggest it could double again in the next generation. Scientists also found that portions of the river have a fecal bacteria count nearly 4,000 times the World Health Organization's standard for bathing. Recent water samples collected in some areas revealed even worse results with a fecal bacteria count 10,000 times higher than the WHO standard for safe river bathing.

What is the source of pollution? Organic waste such as sewage, trash, food, and human as well as animal remains India's population boom has not followed with effort to build a new sewage. The current system just channels waste into the river. Human and animal remains deposited into the Ganges river, sometimes partially cremated, as a sacred Hindu practice. Carcasses of thousands of dead cattle that are also dumped into the river each year Industrial pollutants account for only a small portion of pollution

What are the effects of the pollution? it destroys river ecosystems many river species population are falling rapidly many water-borne diseases including cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and amoebic dysentery 80% of all health problems and one-third of deaths in India are result of different water-borne diseases.

How has the government responded? In 1985 the Indian government launched the so called “Ganges Action Plan” to clean up the river. The original idea was to clean up the river in selected areas by installing sewage treatment plants and threatening fines and legal penalties against industries that pollute. The plan failed because people have been unwilling to adapt. More than $300 million have been spent, with not many results, and it is estimated that $1.5 billion more is needed.

Air Pollution in India Air is also polluted in India almost as much as in China. Some experts believe that smog from India and China could even change weather patterns in North America. Even the famous Taj Mahal is becoming more and more yellow because of tremendous air pollution. Industrialization and urbanization have resulted in a deterioration of India's air quality. Of the 3 million premature deaths in the world that occur each year due to outdoor and indoor air pollution, the highest number are assessed to occur in India. the capital city of New Delhi is one of the top ten most polluted cities in the world.

What’s the Connection? India's gross domestic product has increased 2.5 times over the past two decades car pollution has increased eight times pollution from industries has quadrupled How are all of these things related?

How has the government responded? Reforms aimed at improving the air pollution problem in cities have been difficult to implement. For two years, India's Supreme Court imposed a ruling which required all public transport vehicles in New Delhi to switch to compressed natural gas (CNG) engines by April 1, This ruling, however, led to the disappearance of some 15,000 taxis and 10,000 buses from the city, creating public protests, riots, and widespread "commuter chaos.“ The ruling had to be lifted. There is a lack of enforcement at local levels, but efforts are currently underway to improve this.

Ticket Out the Door What are some causes of water and air pollution in India? What do you think should be done to help solve these problems?