Waters of Ganga become twice as polluted during unlock-2
The water of holy river Ganga has become contaminated again during unlock-2. Water at Harki Pauri in Haridwar was found more polluted than before lockdown. The main reason behind this more businesses and industries restarting and polluting elements increasing that flow from the rain.
This fact has been revealed in the June-July monitoring of the Pollution Control Board. During the lockdown in April, where the amount of faecal coliform on Harki Pauri was 26 MPM per hundred ml, it reached 60 in June-July. This is more than the fixed standard 50 MPM per hundred ml. Even before the lockdown in March, this volume was at the level of 34 MPM per hundred mL.
During the lockdown at Rishikesh-Laxmanjhula, the quantity of faecal coliform was 12 MPM per hundred ml, which reached 26 in June-July. While it was 26 before the lockdown. That is, the Ganges water in Haridwar and Rishikesh has become highly contaminated after the lockdown is over. According to PCB’s Chief Environment Officer SS Pal, after the end of the lockdown, industrial activities and rain water flow in all the drains has increased the amount of faecal coliform in the Ganga.
Pollution increased due to sewer and industrial waste
PCB’s Chief Environmental Officer SS Paul said that faecal coliform is the biggest factor in water turbidity. The more its quantity increases, the more it becomes contaminated. Its standard maximum is 50 MPM per hundred ml. But some places have been found more than this, which is worrying. It grows mainly from sewerage and the filth of factories. That is, after the lockdown and due to rain, a lot of sewage and other dirt is going into the river without treatment.
