Ans. A recent report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), stated that the water in the Ganga at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj was safe for swimming during the Maha Kumbh. While this is a positive sign, it draws attention to the broader issue of river pollution in India, exacerbated by rapid urbanisation and industrial growth. River pollution endangers aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity, and public health, highlighting the urgent need for conservation and sustainable management efforts.

Causes of River Pollution

Despite various regulatory frameworks, multiple sources continue to degrade the quality of rivers:

Untreated Sewage: According to CPCB data, more than 60% of sewage in India is discharged untreated into rivers, severely affecting aquatic ecosystems and public health.
Industrial Effluents: Chemical, sugar, paper, and tannery industries discharge hazardous and often lethal effluents. A notable example is the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling on tanneries in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district, terming the pollution of the Palar river as ‘ecocide’.
Agricultural Runoff: Fertilisers and pesticides flow into rivers, adding toxic substances and eutrophication risks.
Sand Mining and Encroachment: These activities disrupt natural flow, increase flood risks, and aggravate pollution due to unregulated development.
Solid Waste: Millions of tonnes of solid waste are dumped into rivers annually, worsened by inefficient waste management systems.

Any river stretch with a Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) over 3 mg/L is deemed unfit for bathing, according to CPCB standards under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme.

Government Efforts and Their Limitations

India has launched several river conservation initiatives:

Ganga Action Plan (1985): Focused on sewage treatment but suffered from implementation delays and poor community engagement.
Yamuna Action Plan (1993): Executed in phases, but faced similar shortcomings.
Namami Gange Programme (2014): A more integrated effort under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which has shown progress in sewage treatment infrastructure. However, issues like industrial non-compliance, encroachments, and unmanaged waste persist.

Role of Community Participation and Public Awareness

Community participation and public awareness campaigns have emerged as crucial tools in river conservation. Their effectiveness lies in:

Behavioural Change: Campaigns like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Jal Shakti Abhiyan have created greater awareness about cleanliness and water conservation.
Monitoring and Vigilance: Local communities can report polluting activities and assist in tracking illegal dumping or encroachments.
Cultural and Spiritual Connection: Rivers like the Ganga hold spiritual significance. Mobilising religious groups and local leaders helps foster emotional and civic responsibility.
Grassroots Movements: Several community-led efforts—such as the Rally for Rivers or local "Nadi Bachao" campaigns—have effectively raised awareness and even led to policy changes.

Empowering Local Communities

To make community participation more impactful, the following steps can be taken:

Education and Awareness: Conduct regular awareness drives, school programs, and workshops to build knowledge on pollution impacts and conservation techniques.
Decentralised Waste Management: Empower communities with tools and training for composting, waste segregation, and local treatment plants.
Participatory Governance: Involve local residents in river monitoring committees and pollution control boards. Platforms for citizen reporting through apps and hotlines should be made accessible.
Financial Incentives: Offer subsidies or tax benefits to eco-friendly local businesses and reward communities with effective conservation practices.
Technology Integration: Use real-time monitoring systems powered by Artificial Intelligence and GIS to share pollution data with communities in accessible formats.

While government-led rejuvenation projects have achieved partial success, they remain insufficient without active community involvement. Public awareness campaigns and behavioural changes are essential for long-term river conservation. There is also a pressing need to modernise pollution control methods, improve coordination among authorities, and ensure synergy between government, industry, and civil society. Ultimately, rivers have the natural ability to cleanse themselves—what they need is a collective human commitment to stop polluting them.

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