- People crisscrossing the country would have noticed how the lifeline of civilization like rivers have turned into an eyesore not only for the way pollution/effluent-riddled waters appear but also for health hazards caused by a multitude of populations dependent on sustained existence. Provisioning clean drinking water is the top priority of any government in power needs no further elaboration. However, accessing clean drinking water for urban dwellers is not as easy as it should be simply because of the apathy of successive governments failing to rise to the occasion to provision the same. Mind you, India is touted as an aspirational society aiming to be counted among the three largest economies in the world in the next few years.
PC: Telegraph India
- Unfortunately, a basic amenity like clean drinking water is still a luxury for most people in India is a testament to the skewed priorities of our administrators. Several concerned civilians, civic rights activists, environmental crusaders, NGOs, and the ilk have highlighted this aspect repeatedly. Sadly, action on the ground is a work in progress. As we know, the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is hitting headlines for the magnitude of the scale of devotes visiting the Holy Ganga for a dip. The questions must have crossed the minds of many about the proficiency of UP government authorities to ensure the cleanliness of the water since several crores of people would be taking a dip. The NGT has flagged the issue recently, which is most disturbing but not unexpected though.
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PC: Business Standard
- NGT data on Kumbh River water quality also frames a larger national question on cleaning up rivers. How many Indian rivers are polluted? A Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) assessment of 603 rivers, has identified 311 polluted stretches on 279 rivers, based on the organic Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) indicator. So, the same river can be clean in some parts, but not in others. Given the huge gatherings at Kumbh, the confluence of rivers at Prayagraj presented an extraordinary cleanliness challenge for UP authorities. Their preparations have been on a scale too. Now, the National Green Tribunal has drawn attention to worrying water quality data. It quotes a CPCB report dated February 3. What does it say?
PC: Utthan India
- The report raises red flags, less on the BOD measure, and more on Fecal Coliform. It also says sewage treatment plants were found operational, and all but one complies with stipulated norms. So, if the increase in fecal concentration was caused by the sheer number of people taking the holy dip, were the countermeasures inadequate? A thorough transparent investigation is critical. The risks of patchy disease surveillance are staring us in the face. Further, carrying out dependable monitoring and following it up with scientific fixes is the only way for India to clean up its rivers. So long as the discharge of intolerable amounts of untreated industrial, agricultural, and domestic runoffs into its water bodies, our rivers will continue to be unclean and unfit for use.
