The Ganges River, vital to over 650 million people across South Asia, is drying at an unprecedented rate. Recent studies reveal that the river’s decline is faster and more severe than any recorded in the last 1,300 years. This poses a grave threat to food security, water availability and livelihoods in the region. Climate change, human activity and erratic monsoons are driving this crisis.
Historical and
The Ganges basin has supported dense populations for centuries. It provides a quarter of India’s freshwater and fuels much of its agriculture and economy. However, recent decades have seen the worst droughts in over a millennium. Parts of the river once navigable year-round are now dry in summer. Irrigation canals and wells that sustained communities are failing earlier each year. This rapid drying exceeds natural climate variability.
Climate Change and Glacial Retreat
The Gangotri glacier, the Ganges’ source, has retreated nearly one kilometre in twenty years. Melting glaciers initially cause floods but reduce dry-season water flow long-term. The Himalayas, known as Asia’s water towers, are losing ice at alarming rates. This diminishes summer river discharge and threatens water security downstream.
Human Impact and Water Management
Over a thousand dams and barrages alter the river’s natural flow. Groundwater extraction for agriculture depletes aquifers at 15–20 millimetres annually. Pollution from arsenic and fluoride worsens water quality. Projects like the Farakka Barrage reduce flows into Bangladesh, damaging ecosystems such as the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Unregulated water use and infrastructure prioritise short-term gains over ecological health.
Monsoon Variability and River Health
The monsoon, which replenishes the Ganges, has become increasingly erratic due to climate change. Reduced and unpredictable rainfall worsens the drying trend. Smaller tributaries in Bangladesh and West Bengal are drying up in summer, foreshadowing the river’s future if current trends continue.
Socio-Economic Consequences
Millions depend on the Ganges for drinking water, irrigation and fisheries. Declining water availability threatens food production and rural livelihoods. Water scarcity can lead to health problems and economic instability. The drying river risks exacerbating poverty and displacement in an already vulnerable region.
Need for Integrated Action and Cooperation
Experts call for urgent, coordinated measures. Reducing groundwater extraction is critical to allow aquifer recharge. Maintaining environmental flows will protect ecosystems and communities. Improved climate models must incorporate human impacts and monsoon changes to guide policy. Transboundary cooperation between India, Bangladesh and Nepal is essential for data sharing and dam management. Inclusive governance involving local communities, scientists and policymakers is vital for sustainable river restoration.
Questions for UPSC:
- Discuss in the light of climate change and human intervention, the challenges faced by transboundary river management in South Asia.
- Critically examine the impact of glacier retreat in the Himalayas on water security and agriculture in the Indian subcontinent.
- Explain the role of monsoon variability in shaping the hydrology of major South Asian rivers. How does this affect regional food security?
- With suitable examples, discuss the importance of inclusive governance and international cooperation in managing shared water resources.
