Nothing is sacred any more !
For a river that is as revered as the Ganga (Ganges), people haven’t really been giving it much respect. Used as a toilet, a garbage vat and generally neglected over decades, it’s time to get serious and put a stop to it all.
Not cleanups, but education and preventing the pollution of Ganga in the first place !!!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed on time-bound initiatives to stop pollution of River Ganga saying that legal action should be taken against polluting industrial units. He further suggested setting up of environment – friendly crematoria along the river in achieving the goal.
Modi on Tuesday chaired a meeting of “Namami Gange” that was attended by Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Road and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar, besides some top Government officials.
Modi said that the prime focus of the Ganga cleaning plan would be on twin areas – urban sewage and industrial effluents. “Ganga ko ganda na karen (Do not pollute the Ganga),” the Prime Minister emphasised at the meeting. He called for swift action and single-minded focus to stop pollution of the Ganga.
He was also briefed of critical hotspots where the Ganga gets largely polluted. The various lapses / gaps in sewage treatment capacity were also highlighted. Modi pointed out that industrial units should be motivated suitably to stop pollution, failing which action should be initiated within the framework of existing laws, the statement said.
He also emphasised the need to promote recycling of industrial waste water. The Prime Minister was also briefed on ongoing sewerage and riverfront development projects.
A total of 764 grossly-polluting industrial units have been identified along the stretch of the river. The major industries located along the main stem of river Ganga include tanneries, distilleries, pulp and paper, textiles & dyeing, slaughter houses etc. that discharge its effluents into the river Ganga.
While tanneries contribute to largest pollution in terms of number, pulp and paper industries generate maximum waste water. Other than the two, sugar industries also account for over major pollution.
The polluting industries would be fitted with sensors to enable the Ministry to keep track of the polluting units and take action. According to sources, one-third of industrial waste and two-third of agricultural waste in the country flows into the water bodies.
The Slow Murder of Mother Ganga . . .
As per the estimates of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) about 501 Million Litres/Day (MLD) of industrial wastewater after treatment is being discharged into river Ganga from the 764 Grossly Polluted Industries (GPI). Grossly Polluting Industries.
Source : Daily Pioneer