Revival of Ganga: Government's Ambitious Plan to Beautify The Holy River

BANGALORE: It is indeed an unfortunate and embarrassing fact that ‘Ganga’, India’s holiest river finds its name in the list of the world’s most polluted rivers. For centuries, this river has been the symbol of purity and sanctity in the country. From its mythical descent from Lord Shiva’s locks to its serpentine path across India and the final assimilation into the ocean, the river plays an epic role in shaping the culture and character of India.

But, this symbol of purity has now been a face of pollution mainly due to the million litres of unchecked and untreated sewage, industrial waste, animal carcasses, filth, household wastes, construction debris, the run-off of fertilizers and pesticides from fields, even the immersion of ashes and cremation on the banks of the Ganga every day. The most disastrous effects are felt by freshwater species including the Gangetic dolphin and people living in and around this river.

Back in the year 1986, the then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi had launched the Ganga Action Plan. However, years later, pollution in the Ganga remains a tough challenge to combat, as the action plan was not really converted into effective work.

Fortunately, there is a hope that the river will be revived, all thanks to the newly elected PM, Narendra Modi who rides on his promises of saving this holy river. During his election campaign in Varanasi, he remarked that nothing but the summons of ‘Mother Ganga’ brought him to Varanasi. “Nobody called me or sent me to Varanasi. My coming to Varanasi is like a child going to his mother. I have come to this divine land on the call of Ganga Mata,” reports PTI.