Ganga clean at just 1 out of 39 locations: CPCB
What's the story
Only one out of 39 locations through which the Ganga river flows had clean water in the post-monsoon period this year, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has said in its latest study. The CPCB revealed the data in its latest report "Biological Water Quality Assessment of the River Ganga (2017-18)", that was recently made public in compliance with a Supreme Court direction.
Report
Minor difference in pollution condition in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period
The report stated that as many as 37 of the 41 locations through which the Ganga river flows reported moderate to severe water pollution in the pre-monsoon period this year. The water quality of the river was either clean or slightly polluted at only four out of 41 locations during the pre-monsoon period and at only one out of 39 locations post-monsoon, it said.
Pre-monsoon data
3 recorded 'severe' while 34 saw 'moderate' pollution, shows data
In the report, qualitative analysis of samples that were taken during pre- and post-monsoon period were analyzed and put under five water quality classes (A) Clean, (B) Slight pollution, (C) Moderate pollution, (D) Heavy pollution, and (E) Severe pollution. According to the report, 34 areas showed moderate pollution in the river while three areas recorded severe pollution in the pre-monsoon period in 2017-18.
Information
River Pandu, Varuna increasing pollution load of Ganga: Report
In Uttar Pradesh, two major tributaries, River Pandu and River Varuna, are increasing pollution load of the Ganga, said CPCB's report. "On mainstream of River Ganga, although none of the locations were found to be severely polluted... most are in moderate pollution range," it said.
Post-monsoon data
Ramganga, Garra river water heavily polluted during post-monsoon season
In another study titled "Comparison of Biological Water Quality of River Ganga (2014-18)", it was found that Ramganga and Garra river water was in heavy pollution range in post-monsoon season during 2017-18. It showed hardly any improvement in most of the locations in the past four years. Water quality at some locations had deteriorated in 2017-18 as compared to 2014-15, the study said.
Area-wise data
Water quality at Haridwar Barrage cleanest during pre, post-monsoon period
The locations where water quality deteriorated were Jagjeetpur in Uttarakhand and Kanpur, Allahabad, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. In 2017-18, water quality at Haridwar Barrage was cleanest during both pre-and post-monsoon period, the study said. On the other hand, the quality was reported to be severely polluted at different monitoring locations in Kanpur and Varanasi during the pre-monsoon phase, it added.