Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The Ganga River, revered as sacred in Hinduism, faces severe pollution due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural runoff. Recognizing this, the Indian government launched the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985. This multi-pronged initiative aimed to reduce pollution levels and restore the ecological health of the Ganga River system. GAP was India’s first comprehensive river action plan and served as a model for similar projects for other polluted rivers in the country. It marked a significant shift towards environmental consciousness in India’s developmental policies.
Ganga Action Plan: A Detailed Overview
The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched in January 1985 as a response to increasing levels of pollution in the Ganga River. It was a centrally funded scheme with the primary objective of improving the water quality of the Ganga by reducing pollution load and conserving the river’s biodiversity.
Phases of the Ganga Action Plan
GAP-I (1985-1990)
The first phase focused on pollution control in the main stem of the Ganga River, from Gangotri to Haldia. Key interventions included:
- Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs): Construction of 33 STPs with a total capacity of 842 MLD (Million Liters per Day).
- Industrial Effluent Treatment: Setting up of 25 effluent treatment plants (ETPs) to control pollution from industries.
- Riverfront Development: Improvement of ghats and crematoria along the riverbanks.
- Monitoring and Public Awareness: Establishing monitoring stations and launching public awareness campaigns.
GAP-II (1993-2000)
The second phase extended the scope of the plan to include tributaries of the Ganga, such as the Yamuna, Gomti, and Ghaghara. It also focused on preventing pollution from non-point sources like agricultural runoff.
- Expansion of STP Network: Construction of additional STPs and upgrading existing ones.
- Low-Cost Sanitation: Promotion of low-cost sanitation technologies in rural areas.
- Afforestation: Planting trees along the riverbanks to prevent soil erosion and improve water quality.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Initiatives to protect aquatic life and conserve riverine ecosystems.
Achievements of the Ganga Action Plan
- Reduced Pollution Load: Significant reduction in the levels of organic pollution (BOD - Biochemical Oxygen Demand) in some stretches of the Ganga.
- Increased Awareness: Raised public awareness about the importance of river conservation.
- Infrastructure Development: Creation of infrastructure for sewage treatment and industrial effluent management.
- Model for Other River Action Plans: Served as a blueprint for similar initiatives for other polluted rivers in India.
Limitations of the Ganga Action Plan
Despite its achievements, the GAP faced several limitations:
- Inadequate Funding: Insufficient funding hampered the implementation of the plan.
- Lack of Coordination: Poor coordination between different government agencies and stakeholders.
- Maintenance Issues: Inadequate maintenance of STPs and ETPs led to their reduced efficiency.
- Unaccounted Pollution Sources: Failure to address pollution from unregulated sources, such as small-scale industries and agricultural runoff.
- Focus on Symptomatic Treatment: Primarily focused on treating the symptoms of pollution rather than addressing the root causes.
Subsequent Initiatives
Recognizing the limitations of the GAP, the government launched several subsequent initiatives to address the pollution of the Ganga:
- National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): Launched in 1995, it extended the scope of river conservation to other major rivers in India.
- Ganga River Basin Authority (GRBA): Established in 2009 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to ensure comprehensive planning and implementation of Ganga conservation projects.
- Namami Gange Programme: Launched in 2014, it is an integrated conservation mission with a budget of over ₹20,000 crore, focusing on sewage treatment, industrial effluent monitoring, afforestation, and riverfront development.
Conclusion
The Ganga Action Plan, though facing limitations, was a pioneering effort towards river conservation in India. It laid the foundation for subsequent initiatives like the Namami Gange Programme, which aims for a more holistic and sustainable approach to restoring the ecological health of the Ganga. Continued investment, improved coordination, and community participation are crucial for achieving the long-term goal of a clean and healthy Ganga River.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.