Ganga River Remains Polluted Despite BJP's Namami Gange Scheme

The cleaning of the Ganga river, a long-standing political issue in India, remains unresolved despite the BJP government's Namami Gange scheme launched in 2015 with a budget of over ₹32,000 crore. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the river continues to be polluted by untreated sewage, industrial waste, and cremation rituals, with faecal coliform levels above permissible limits at 70% of monitoring stations in January 2023.

The issue of Ganga pollution has been a persistent challenge, with successive governments failing to effectively address the problem. The Namami Gange scheme aimed to clean and rejuvenate the river, but its impact has been limited. The BJP had promised to clean the Ganga, but the river remains as polluted as it was before the party came to power. Cleaning the Ganga has been a political issue for decades, with leaders across the political spectrum promising to clean the river, but no firm action has been taken.

The Ganga is a source of drinking water for over 40% of India's population, but only about half of the sewage entering the river is treated. Dams in Uttarakhand also block the river's flow, turning it into a stream in several places during the summer months. Despite the government's efforts and spending, the Ganga remains polluted, and the issue continues to be a long-standing political problem in India.

Why this matters: The pollution of the Ganga river has significant environmental, health, and cultural implications for millions of people in India. The failure to effectively clean the river despite substantial government spending and political promises highlights the need for more comprehensive and sustained efforts to address this critical issue.

The Congress party has accused the BJP-led central government of neglecting the issues of sugarcane farmers and the pollution of the Ganga river in Uttar Pradesh. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that a "silent undercurrent" is brewing across western Uttar Pradesh against the failures of the Modi government. Ramesh highlighted that despite the BJP's Namami Gange scheme, which allocated over ₹20,000 crore, the Ganga remains India's most polluted river, with faecal coliform levels exceeding permissible limits at 70% of monitoring stations. The Congress has promised to address these issues if elected, including through robust legislation to prevent paper leaks.

Key Takeaways

• Ganga river remains polluted despite BJP's Namami Gange scheme, costing ₹32,000 crore.
• Faecal coliform levels exceed limits at 70% of monitoring stations as of January 2023.
• Successive governments have failed to effectively address Ganga pollution, a long-standing political issue.
• Only half of sewage entering Ganga is treated, and dams block river flow in summer.
• Congress accuses BJP of neglecting Ganga pollution, promises robust legislation if elected.