View of LOCKDOWN 2020: A BOON FOR RIVER GANGA

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Vol. 06, Issue 01,January 2021 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL)

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LOCKDOWN 2020: A BOON FOR RIVER GANGA Jeet Singh¹ and Yogender Singh²

1Department of physics, LSSSS Government Degree, Mant Mathura U.P., India

2Department of Chemistry, M.K.R. Government Degree College, Saddique Nagar, Ghaziabad, U.P., India

Abstract - The lockdown 2020 due topandemic spread of Corona virus may have forced us to stay inside behind doors, but it's been a boon for the environment outside. With industries shut and people staying indoors, nature appears to be in self-rejuvenation mode. Studies show that air quality has become more pure and rivers has become more cleaner. Especially, in Uttar Pradesh, particularly, the impact of the lockdown on the Ganga has been significant.

This improvement in water quality is due to lack of industrial waste in the river. It is an effect of nationwide lockdown as the major cause of water pollution is the toxic industrial waste which is discharged into the river. The Central Pollution Control Broad (CPCB) in its latest report -- 'Impact of lockdown on water quality of river Ganga, April 2020 -- has says the main source of water pollution in the river are industrial effluents and the domestic wastewater (5).

The river Ganga's water quality has improved with the increase in dissolved oxygen (DO) and reduced nitrate concentration. The tributaries of Ganga have also refined due to the concentration of DO increase during the lockdown period (4).

According to UPPCB the level of Coliform and Fecal Coliform bacteria in the river water was so high and against the maximum permissible limit of 500 MPN (most probable number)/100 ML of water for both bacteria, 40,000 MPN of Coliform and 22,000 MPN of Fecal Coliform bacteria was measured in the Ganga (21).

But since March this year, the country went into lockdown, which also forced the closure of the industries along its banks, the water quality has been improving dramatically.

According to reports of CPCB, the quality has improved so much that now it is fit for drinking (5).

Keywords: River Ganga, lockdown, water quality rejuvenation, industrial effluents, domestic waste water.

1 INTRODUCTION

The Himalayas are the source of three major Indian rivers namely the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. Ganga drains a basin of extraordinary variation in altitude, climate, land use, flora & fauna, social and cultural life. Ganga has been a cradle of human civilization since time immemorial. Millions depend on this great river for physical and spiritual sustenance.

People have immense faith in the powers of healing and regeneration of the Ganga. It is arguably the most sacred river in the world and is deeply revered by the people of this country. The River plays a vital role in religious ceremonies and rituals. To bathe in Ganga is a lifelong ambition of many who congregate in large numbers for several rivers centered festivals such as Kumbh Mela and numerous Snan (bath) festivals.

The rive Ganga occupies a unique position in the cultural ethos of India. The river Ganga or Ganges is 2,525 km long,

rises in the western Himalayas in Uttarakhand (Indian State) and flows to the south- east through the Gangetic Plain of the North India into the Bangladesh where it merges into the Bay of Bengal. The altitude of river Ganga ranges from 8848 m in the high Himalayas to the sea level in coastal deltas of India and Bangladesh (Google source).

The nationwide lockdown due to pandemic spread of the novel corona virus (COVID-19) in India was announced on March 22 for only one day. And then again announced for some days under name:

1. Lockdown 1- from March 24 till April 14, 2020. (22 days)

2. Lockdown 2- It was further extended till May 3, 2020 (19 days)

3. Lockdown 3-It was again extended until May 17, 2020 (14 days).

Means, people were forced to stay indoors and industries shut for total

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55days which is a quite long period when no industrial effluents were discharged in the rivers and air, as a result of which the air quality as well as the river water quality seems to be more pure and clear (10).

Various news reports, as well as social media posts, indicated that ‗life seemed to be returning to the river‘ [9]. It was reported that the lockdown 2020 had improved the water quality status of River Ganga, which many projects of the government could not do during the last two decades.

―What could not be achieved in the last 34 years since the inception of Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1986, and the launch of Namami Gange in 2014, with hundreds of crores of rupees being pumped in, is visible in just 34-35 days of lockdown,‖ said Prof B D Tripathi, chairman of Mahamana Malaviya Research Centre for Ganga, River Development and Water Resource Management, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) [13]

The water quality of Ganga River had shown visual improvement since implementation of the nationwide lockdown 2020 that has led to a reduction in discharge of industrial effluents into it. The water of River Ganga is so transparent that one can see its aquatic life, deep in the water. It's all thanks to the nationwide lockdown 2020 due to Covid-19 which helps in ending of polluting activities (11).

This paper analyses the impact of lockdown 2020 on water quality of River Ganga (U.P.), India. This paper also throws light on

various ways to improve the water quality of River Ganga.

2 RESEARCH AREA

Ganga basin is the largest river basin in India in terms of catchment area, constituting 26% of the country's land mass (8,61,404 Sq. km) and supporting about 43% of its population (448.3 million as per 2001 census). The basin lies between East longitudes 73°02‘ and 89°05‘ and North latitudes of 21°06‘ and 31°21‘, covering an area of 1,086,000 sq km, extending over India, Nepal and Bangladesh. About 79%

area of Ganga basin is in India [1]. The basin covers 11 states viz., Uttarakhand, U.P., M.P., Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Delhi. The current focus of world bank funded National Ganga River Basin Projects (NGRBP) of NMCG is on five major states on the main stem of river Ganga namely Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. The drainage area of River Ganga in different states shown in Table 1 (given below).

(Google source)

States Drainage area(km) Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh 294,364 Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh 198,962 Bihar and Jharkhand 143,961

Rajasthan 112,490

West Bengal 71,485

Haryana 34,341

Himachal Pradesh 4,317

Delhi 1,484

Total 861,404

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Figure1 Map of India showing main stream and tributaries of Ganga with its crossing states

2.1 Here are some geographical facts about River Ganga:

 Originating Point: Gaumukh, Gangotri in Uttarakhand

 Source of Origin: Gangotri Glacier, Satopanth Glacier, Khatling Glacier, and waters from melted snow from such peaks as Nanda Devi, Trisul, Kedarnath, Nanda Kot, and Kamet

 Total Stretch: 2525 sq km

 Name of the Countries that Ganga Flows Through: India and Bangladesh

 Number of States Covered by Ganga in India: Five (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal)

 Important Cities Covered by Ganga:

Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Bijnor, Patna, Rishikesh, Munger, Bhagalpur and Kolkata

3 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH

During present investigation, water samples from three different sampling stations were collected at the end of the lockdown 2020 period. To compare the alteration in water quality status of River Ganga during pre and post lockdown period, the result observed were compared with the data of the Real-Time Water Quality Motoring

Systems, CPCB, UPPCB and also various other state pollution control boards.

The parameters under investigation were 1. Transparency

2. Turbidity

3. Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

4. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) 5. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 6. Total and Faecalcolliform Count The different stations selected were

1. Varanasi

2. Kanpur (Bithoor)

The reason for the selection of only these two stations for water sampling is that it is easily reachable for the team and also the water quality status of River ganga is worse due to lots of industrial effluents as well domestic wastes.

1. Varanasi (Tourist place)-The town's name Varanasi has been derived from two tributaries Varuna and Asi, which contribute fresh water to Ganga.

Most of the anthropogenic activities that cause pollution have been found here. The water quality was found worst at this site was due to the active presence of many saree dyeing units, automobile

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workshops, hotels and restaurants, large number of cremation, floating population and huge quantity of dumping solid wastes into the Ganga.

2. Kanpur (Industrial site): As per data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), at least 1,072 industrial units had been heavily polluting the river between Haridwar and Kanpur by releasing heavy metals and pesticides into the Ganga (5).

Kanpur city alone is generating around 415 MLD of domestic and industrial effluent. ―According to a rough estimate, around 80% of effluent was domestic waste and the remaining 20% belonged to the industrial sector," regional pollution control board officer Dr SB Franklin said.(17)

4 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The functions of River Ganga have been significantly modified by various large-scale anthropogenic factors such as fragmentation of river habitats, dams and barrages, discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater and intensive agriculture relying on chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides (15)

It is one of the most sacred rivers to the Hindus and a lifeline to a billion Indians

who live along its traverse. One of the most populated cities along its route is Kanpur.

This city has a population of approx. 29.2 lakhs (2.9 million).

As per data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), at least 1,072 industrial units had been heavily polluting the river between Haridwar and Kanpur by releasing heavy metals and pesticides into the Ganga(5).

―Ganga Action Plan was the first project to clean the river, launched on January 14, 1986 by the Prime Minister late Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. The main aim of the project was to check pollution and improve water quality through interception, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage, and toxic and industrial chemical wastes,‖ Agarwal said(8).

The main water quality parameters for organic pollution is indicated by DO, BOD and COD and pathogens are indicated by coliform count (2). These parameters were recorded very high with the critical limit prescribed by APHA for domestic use.

According to [14], the amount of industrial wastewater by volume is about 20% of the total volume of wastewater generated in the Ganga Basin, out of which nearly 55%

comes from Uttar Pradesh. Sewage from Kanpur coupled with untreated toxic waste discharge from about 400 industrial units, many of them tanneries, results in severe deterioration of water quality [14].

Table 2 Results of the samples collected from the rivers from different stations showed there was a remarkable drop in pollution levels during the lockdown period.

Parameters Pre lock down During lockdown

Turbidity 38 JTU 10 JTU

DO 7.9 mg/l 9.8 mg/l

BOD 3.7 mg/l 2.7 mg/l

Total colliform count 2,200 MPN/ 100 ml 1,300 MPN/100ml Feacalcolliform count 1,300 MPN/100ml 670 MPN/100ml 1. Turbidity and Transparency: In

General, turbidity and transparency both are inversed to each other. Turbidity is the measure of the fine suspended particle in the water body, mostly caused by colloidial particles (18). The turbidity in the river Ganga is due to suspended solids and organic load. Both organic and in organic particulates. The turbidity of River ganga is decreased due to the rainfall in March month the water levels of Ganga has

increased, which will boost its transparency quality and cleaning capacity.

According to Joshi, the cause behind cleaner Ganga water is a 500 per cent decrease in total dissolved solid (TDS), industrial effluent and sewage from cities (12).

2. Dissolved oxygen (DO): DO is the most significant parameter as it regulates the metabolic activities of the organisms. It is the best indicator of the water quality (13).

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Low DO level signifies poor water quality. If dissolved oxygen levels decline, aquatic life is impacted badly.

The river Ganga's water quality has improved with the increase in dissolved oxygen (DO) during the lockdown period.

The increase in value of DO may also be due to reduction in industrial and domestic wastes from various sources. The other reason of increase in DO could be also additional water from rain as a source of dilution.

3. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD):

BOD and COD level indicates the amount of decaying organic matter ( domestic wastes) in water as well on going chemical reactions (industrial effluents) (19). A low value of BOD and COD indicate good water quality.

The reduction in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) concentration was due to less discharge of domestic waste and industrial effluents during this lockdown 2020 as all industries were shut and peoples were forced to stay indoors.

4. Coliform count: Two other vital parameters to determine the quality of river water are total coliform and faecal coliform, which also shows decline.

Ideally a river is considered fit for bathing only if FCC per 100 ml is less than 500. For drinking, FCC should be zero ideally,‖ Prof Mishra (11).

According to UPPCB the level of Coliform and Fecal Coliform bacteria in the river water was so high and against the maximum permissible limit of 500 MPN (most probable number)/100 ML of water for both bacteria, 40,000 MPN of Coliform and 22,000 MPN of Fecal Coliform bacteria was measured in the Ganga, in Kanpur (21).

The water quality in terms of Faecal coliform (FC) count has been poor at the stations along the river due to the less discharge of domestic sewage from various sources.

"1/10th of the pollution in Ganga river comes from industries (15). As industries are shut due to lockdown, situation has become better. We have seen 40-50 per cent improvement in the Ganga.

It is a significant development," Dr. PK

Mishra, Professor at Chemical Engineering and Technology, IIT-BHU (11)

Locals in Varanasi are happy. There is a lot of difference when we see the water of the Ganga river today and what used to be earlier. Today, the water looks clean.

One of the biggest reasons behind this is that today all factories are closed. People are not taking bath at the ghats. If this is the condition in 10 days, then I believe Ganga river will be like it used to be earlier, one of the local said (6).

The main causes for the rejuvenation of River Ganga can be best explained under these two sub headings-

1. Reduction in the discharge of industrial and commercial effluents.

Almost nil industrial pollution due to complete lockdown increased the quality of water in the Ganga River. The water quality improved significantly at Kanpur and Varanasi, since the enforcement of the lockdown, especially around the industrial sectors.

When sewage gets mixed with industrial effluents, it shows negative affects on the self-cleaning abilities of the river (15). The organic pollution level from domestic sewage gets diluted in the river comparatively at a faster rate than the inorganic pollution [1].

The chemical pollution by industries causes high COD concentration in river which destroys its self-cleaning properties due to complex nature of pollutants(3). The self-rejuvenating properties of river Ganga had improved due to which its water quality has also improved.

2. Complete prohibition on other group activities like tourism, fairs etc.

As the public were forced to avoid group activities like religious activities and fair etc., it reduced the local impacts of solid waste coming into the river. The activities near the ghats (river banks) were banned.

River during lockdown was completely free from the discharge of solid waste dumping and littering along its banks by visitors.

5 CONCLUSION

Clean rivers and healthy aquatic life symbolize that the ecosystem is functioning well. The impact of the lockdown on River

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Ganga‘s water quality is, however, encouraging and proves that by undertaking more measures, water quality can be improved even further. Specifically, there has been significant improvement in the water quality indicators of River Ganga

— an increase in dissolved oxygen (DO) and reduction in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and COD during the lockdown. Fecal coliform count (FCC), the primary indicator of potability, has also declined.

The impact is credited to the combined effect of reduced discharge of industrial wastewater and increased freshwater inflows due to excessive rainfall observed during the lockdown.

Yet, it is believed that this improvement in water quality is ‗short-lived‘

and quality would decline once the normal industrial activities are resumed, indicating a strong influence of untreated commercial–

industrial wastewater. The paper concludes that the river can be rejuvenated if issues of wastewater and adequate flow releases are treated.

We are blessed to have been gifted with such a holy river; however, we do not seem to value it anymore. For hundreds of year, Ganga has been looking after many of our needs and all we have done, is polluting it. We need to respect this worthless gift from God and need to make others aware of its importance.

People do not even think once before disposing plastic bags and other non- biodegradable in river in the name of religion and then we blame industries for the pollution. The time is now to stop blaming others and to start to do our best to keep not only Ganga clean but all the rivers in the country as water is a precious source of our life.

Let us all pledge today, to save not only River Ganga but also other water bodies and our environment as a whole.

Always remember that small changes collectively can bring a very big change.

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