Specifics of the Problem

Pollution of the Ganges River began to catch the attention of the public around the 1950s.  During this time the population size of areas around the river in India began to steadily increase.  A larger population meant that more and more people were using this river to bathe and using it as a trash and waste outlet.  As well, an increase in industries placed along the river has been one of the major contributors to the pollution.  Specifically the leather industry around Kanpur, India leaks Chromium and other chemicals into the river.  Leakage and dispensing of industry chemicals is a growing and dangerous issue along the shores of the river.  In recent times, conditions within the Ganges River have been worsening, mainly because efforts and programs to fix or clean up the river have failed and industrialization along the river has increased.  The main causes associated with the increasing pollution are industrial contamination, sewage dumping, religious uses, dumping of ashes, and human bathing.  The Ganges River is a main aspect of the Hindu faith in that it is treated and viewed as holy water.  For ritual purposes, Hindus will bathe in the river to absolve themselves of their sins and to form a stronger connection with God.  It is also a common practice to disperse the ashes of deceased Hindu people into the water because it is believed that the river will lead the soul to heavenly state.  Although the use of the river for religious purposes is a historical practice, it is also a contributing factor to the water’s pollution.  As well, there are very few areas where the water is considered safe to bathe in, which puts people who bathe in unsafe areas in potentially harmful situations.  For example in Varansi, India, people who use the Ganges River water frequently have been found to contract waterborne and enteric diseases.  According to research found in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research, these people were diagnosed with, “acute gastrointestinal disease, cholera, dysentery, hepatitis-A, and typhoid.”