Save Our Mother Rivers and Secure Our future to be Safe .....

In India we belive the rivers of our country are our mother (Jeevan Dayani) but it is also very true that how much now we are caring them.On the one way we use to worship our rivers and on the other hand not caring them.

Worship of river ganga at varanasi

Most of the Indian rivers and their tributaries viz., Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Sone, Cauvery Damodar and Brahmaputra are reported to be grossly polluted due to discharge of untreated sewage disposal and industrial effluents directly into the rivers. The indiscriminate dumping and release of wastes containing hazardous substances into rivers lead to environmental disturbance which could be considered as a potential source of stress to biotic community. River water pollution leads sever impact on living community. Some recent studies show terrific facts like; Death of ghariyals in the Chambal sanctuary, pesticide pollution in Yamuna River etc.

The Ganga Basin, the largest river basin of the country, houses about 40 percent of population of India. During the course of its journey, municipal sewages from 29 Class-I cities (cities with population over 1,00,000), 23 Class II cities (cities with population between 50,000 and 1,00,000) and about 48 towns, effluents from industries and polluting wastes from several other non-point sources are discharged into the river Ganga resulting in its pollution. The NRCD records, as mentioned in audit report, put the estimates of total sewage generation in towns along river Ganga and its tributaries as 5044 MLD (Million Litres per Day). According to the Central Pollution Control Board Report of 2001, the total wastewater generation on the Ganga basin is about 6440 MLD.

The pollutants include oils, greases, plastics, plasticizers, metallic wastes, suspended solids, phenols, toxins, acids, salts, dyes, cyanides, pesticides etc. Many of these pollutants are not easily susceptible to degradation and thus cause serious pollution problems. Contamination of ground water and fish-kill episodes are the major effects of the toxic discharges from industries. Discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents leads to number of conspicuous effects on the river environment (Table 3). The impact involves gross changes in water quality viz. reduction in dissolved oxygen and reduction in light penetration that’s tends loss in self purification capability of river water. 

Table 3 : Environmental implications of the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents
S.N.	Factor	Principal environmental effect	Potential ecological consequences	Remedial action
1.	High biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) caused by bacterial breakdown of organic matter	Reduction in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration	Elimination of sensitive species, increase in some tolerant species; change in the community structure	Pretreatment of effluent, ensure adequate dilution
2.	Partial biodegradation of proteins and other nitrogenous material	Elevated ammonia concentration; increased nitrite and nitrate levels	Elimination of intolerant species, reduction in sensitive species	Improved treatment to ensure complete nitrification; nutrient stripping possible but expensive
3.	Release of suspended solid matter	Increased turbidity and reduction of light penetration	Reduced photosynthesis of submerge plants; abrasion of gills or interference with normal feeding behavior	Provide improved settlement, insure adequate dilution
4.	Deposition of organic sludges in slower water	Release of methane and hydrogen as sulphide matter decomposes anoxically, Modification of substratum by blanket of sludge	Elimination of normal benthic community loss of interstitial species; increase in the species able to exploit increased food source	Discharge where velocity adequate to prevent deposition
Other poisons
1.	Presence of poisonous substances	Change in water quality	Water directly and acutely toxic to some organisms, causing change in community composition; consequential effect on pray- predator relation; sub- lethal effects on some species	Increase dilution
Inert solids
1.	Particles in suspension	Increased turbidity. Possibly increased abrasion	Reduced photosynthesis of submerged plant. Impairing feeding ability through reduced vision or interference with collecting mechanism of filter feeders (e.g. reduction in nutritive value of collected material).Possible abrasion	Improve settlement
2.	Deposition of material	Blanketing of substratum, filing of interstices and/or substrate instability	Change in benthic community, reduction in diversity ( increased number of a few species)	Discharge where velocity adequate to ensure dispersion
Source: S. C Santra

ALLAHABAD, India — Standing at the shores of the Sangam — the calm expanse of gray-blue water where the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers meet — it’s not hard to sense the profound spiritual significance the spot holds for millions of Hindu pilgrims.

Crossing it, however, can be a harrowing experience. But if we not care then can we feel this type of ambiance in future, think what we are going to give our next generation???