Ma Ganga,Clean Ganga

Ma Ganga is the lifeline of the spiritual, cultural and economic evolution of the northern part of Bharatvarsh. It has given birth to the oldest civilization on earth and which is still growing strong and vibrating. Its intimately entwined with every aspect of Indian life.

The longest river of India, Ganga, originates in Gangotri in UtaarKashi and ends near Diamond Harbour in West Bengal. It provides water to around 40% of the population spread across 11 states. As the legend goes, it is believed that Ganga originates from the “jata” of Lord Shiva and is revered and worshipped in India for centuries. It’s a symbol of purity, divinity and life.

Sadly – she has also become the sixth most polluted river in the world.

Pollution

The main source of pollution is the discharge of untreated waste.  Countless tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses and hospitals contribute to the pollution of the Ganges by dumping the sewage alongwith the associated filth, germs and faces into it. Industrial effluents are about 12% of the total volume of effluent reaching the Ganges. Although a relatively low proportion, they are a cause for major concern because of its toxicity and often non-biodegradable. During certain festival seasonsits estimated that 70 million people bathe in Ganga over a few weeksto cleanse themselves from their sins. Also materials like food and leaves which are consumed by human are offered to Ganga for ritualistic reasons.

Clean-up Projects (?) : It is interesting to note the mammoth amount of money “spent” in cleaning up Ganga since the first project of cleansing Ganga was announced in 1986. According to a Central Pollution Control Board report of 2012, the amount “spent” on various clean-up projects since 1986 was as whoopingRs.20,000 Crores !

Not that Indian political leadership do not recognise the pollution of Ganga. In fact several efforts have been made since last almost 30 years, few of which are as below :

1. Ganga Action Plan: It was launched in April 1986. Sadly after spending Rs. 901 crores, the pollution increased in the Ganga. This plan was withdrawn on 31 March 2000. The steering Committee of the National River Conservation Authority reviewed the progress and necessary corrections were made on the basis of lessons learned and experiences gained. A million litres of sewage was targeted to be intercepted, diverted and treated. Phase-II of the program was approved in stages from 1993 onwards, and included the following tributaries of the Ganges: Yamuna, Gomti, Damodar and Mahananda.

2. National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA): It was established by the Central Government of India, on 20 February 2009 under Section 3(3) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It also declared Ganges as the "National River" of India. The chair includes the Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, and Chief ministers of states through which the Ganges flows. In 2011, the World Bank "approved $1 billion in funding for the National Ganga River Basin Authority. Despite all efforts, the Ganga remained as polluted as ever. Probably the pollution increased !

3. The Supreme Court: On the directive of the H’ble Supreme Court many polluting industrial units were closed or relocated. In 2010, the government declared the stretch of river between Gaumukh and Uttarkashi an "eco-sensitive zone".

Consistency in failure :

It’s a paradox that while crores and crores of Rupees were “spent” on clean-up exercise of Ganga, the pollution of Ganga increased – probably exponentially. Politicians and bureaucrats have loadfull of reasons to justify the failure. However, a dispassionate analysis of the reasons of failure may lead to very trivial yet profound root cause. A few are listed here :

Absence of will by successive governments.  While most governments were prompt in “announcing” their “concern”, their interest of announcing the fund allocation were elsewhere !The sluggishness in the efforts to clean up the river cuts across political spectrum which gets compounded by the bureaucratic red tape, involving five member states. Incidentally, the major pollution-causing states are : Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal !

(Readers are requested to draw their own inferences on the governance environment of these States since last 30 years !!! )

It is worthwhile to mention that Rs.20,000 did not add in anyway to clean Ganga, but have served as a ‘cash cow” to corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.

Many unscrupulous elements made a fortune by “cleaning” Ganga.

Poverty and illiteracy generally walk together. With the huge increase in population coupled with utter poverty, understanding the“need” to have a clean Ganga amongst the mass was too much an expectation.

Going Forward

When Mr NarendraModi  took charge in May 2014, he was categorical and crystal clear on his vision and mission to clean Ganga.  This resolve was reflected in the budget announced by the incumbent Government – which allocated a sum of Rs. 2,037 crores. Ms Uma Bharati has been deputed to steer the resolve of the new government.

Readers might wonder what’s so new in allocation ?Afterall over Rs.20,000 Crore has already gone down the drain in last 30 years !

They are absolutely justified to raise such pessimism.

IN the 2014 Lok Sabha elections,  MrModi contested from Varanasi and was disallowed to campaign – on some flimsy ground ! He could engage with his voters only after his historic victory – something unprecedented in the history of electoral politics in India. The first engagement with his voters in his constituency of Varanasi was on the “Ghats” of Varanasi where he saw the traditional “SandhyaAarti” being performed on the bank of Ganga.  Subsequently – he addressed his constituency.

One may recall that in his first address to the residences of Varanasi, Mr NarendraModi made ahis thought absolutely clear.

“Pan” (beetle leave) is such an product (or entity) which is so intimately related to the culture and tradition of people residing in the northern part of India – irrespective of religion, caste and gender. It’s a part of life here.

And so is its red-coloured left-over which, we Indians, are so generous in openly distributing at !

Mr Modi like a true statesman,  in his very first address in his constituency (Varanasi) called upon his own people to stop polluting Ma Ganga by stopping spitting the left-over of Pan. Surely something which the people of Varanasi perhaps never expected nor heard of earlier.

However this call of Mr Modi,  provided an enormous positive impact in the minds of the entire people of northern India.

His message was clear and simple–

Controlling pollution of Ma Ganga Action starts with Not spitting on Her.