Soon, data on Ganga pollution on NMCG website

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Soon, data on Ganga pollution on NMCG website

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is set to release into the public domain data gathered from 110 industries that release effluents into the Ganga. These industries are located in five states, and release their waste into the Ganga and its tributaries. The devices to monitor the effluents - both quantity and quality - were installed on the instructions of a recent order of the National Green Tribunal.

The gadgets were installed right next to the point from where the effluents were released out of the industries, before joining the river. Once effluents enter the river, it becomes difficult to assess which pollutant has entered the river from where, and in what quantity.

NMCG director TVSN Prasad said, "Gadgets have been installed just on the location where the effluents are released out of the industries to record the quantity and quality of the effluents. There is another gadget installed at a little height on the same location to measure the air pollution created by these effluents. These records are not only maintained by the industries but also kept by NMCG as well."

Prasad said moves were afoot to get even the smaller industries located near the river to install the device for monitoring pollutants. "We are encouraging even small industries to install such gadgets. If they cannot do so on their own, small clusters of such industries can be built and connected to these gadgets. Either the state government or the private sector can be roped in to do so."

Of 2,723.3 MLD sewage that flows down into the Ganga, around 25% comes from industries, Prasad said.

"There are some 764 highly toxic industries in the states on the Ganga banks. These industries are dumping their extremely harmful waste into the river and its tributaries," the NMCG official said.

Prasad added that gradually, all industries that release effluents into the river will have to maintain day-to-day record of waste and its disposal. "NMCG is going to keep a check on them through these gadgets," he said.

This ambitious scheme has been launched by the Union ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation.

Source: Times of India

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6 Comments

  1. I agree with Peter here that while this is a step in the right direction by establishing monitoring sites for effluent discharges unless you can exactly pinpoint the source and the culprit for an elevated level for a pollutant such as TSS or bacteria (total and fecal coliforms), then this system can only go so far. Companies should be held directly responsible for discharge any toxic effluents into the Ganga River especially if it did not go through any pre-treatment or treatment system whatsoever. By ensuring the polluter pays for their environmental crimes, this can help build a more robust environmental compliance and enforcement arm to ensure these industrial sources are controlled and do not negatively impact the ecological health of the Ganga River.

  2. This is good news but there needs to be further action in order to protect the monitoring sites. My guess is that a large proportion will be vandalized within weeks and the culprits will not be found. Each company discharging must face a very heavy fine if their monitoring station is found not to be functioning properly and results not properly reported. Charging for TE discharges has been in force for many years in most countries and the income pays for policing and environmental protection.

  3. Ganga river flows rates to outfall flows rates are needed. Tests Q basis BOD,DO, TDS,

    SS, COD, and cy. Coliform tests from total coliform, fecal coliform, and E. Coli..many times dilution of 100 ml sample in not proper procedure on fecal coliform.  State of Florida, U.S. did allow 12 Cities to use Ocean Outfalls to dump unteated sewage into depth of 28.5 m 3,050 m in Gulf Stream moving at average speed of 6.4 kilometers. Over forty years ago. "Solution to Pollution is Diluton" Thirty years ago State went to full Treatment.

    State now has ordered all Ocean Outfall being to removed. Coliform test method must be looked at for better method.  Ganga river must 1st things first and give it your best.  When we get results of all discharges

    (Outfalls) from the 25% outfalls of 2,723.3 MLD flows from Ganga river it may make our hair turn pure white.     

     

  4. Monitoring is not  a cure, it must be understood. There have been several such news items about installation of monitoring devices. The source of pollution must be established. It is quite easy since identifying a polluting unit is simple. So is the method to establish the pollutant resulting from that unit as well as volume of pollutant release

  6. I think this idea is the first stage before the act to clean the river.but the high  of priority to solve the problem is how to reduce or eliminate the root cause of problem. The prime suspect of river impurities or polutants kind, have got from the early of time and then give the legal support, by goverment to the source of polutants creator.