The ancient river channel of Adi Ganga, once the main course of the River Ganga in Kolkata, is set to be revived and rejuvenated as part of a multi-country South Asian River project. This revival project, which is being spearheaded by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), has received funding of approximately Rs 650 crore. The project seeks to restore the river to its former glory, combat pollution, and address significant encroachment issues.
Major Issues Facing Adi Ganga
Adi Ganga was the primary channel of the Ganga until the 17th century. However, decades of neglect have led to severe environmental degradation, with the river becoming heavily polluted and encroached upon. Despite its continued survival up to the 1970s, the quality of the water gradually deteriorated until it effectively became a sewer, choked and rapidly encroached. A directive was issued in 1998 by the Calcutta High Court for the removal of all encroachments within a month. However, subsequent reports showed that the encroachments persisted. The river now has negligible life, with state pollution control board data indicating faecal bacteria counts exceeding 17 million in 100 millilitres of river water.
The Path to Rejuvenation
The West Bengal government has been directed by the National Green Tribunal to complete the rejuvenation of the river by September 30, 2025. The river was selected for a pollution study during an international water conference organised by Action Aid, a non-profit organisation, in Bangladesh. Other rivers selected for this study include Buriganga in Bangladesh, Puyang in China, Bagmati in Nepal, and Klang in Malaysia.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
The NMCG was established on August 12, 2011, as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The mission is to reduce pollution and rejuvenate the Ganga river by promoting intersectoral coordination for comprehensive planning, management, and maintaining ecological flow in the river. The aim is to ensure water quality and environmentally sustainable development. The NMCG operates a five tier structure, involving national, state, and district level entities working together to prevent and control environmental pollution in the River Ganga.
Other Initiatives Related to Ganga
In addition to the NMCG, other initiatives are aimed at conserving and rejuvenating the Ganga river. These include the Namami Gange Programme, a flagship programme approved by the Union Government in June 2014, which seeks to abate pollution and rejuvenate the National River Ganga. Ganga was declared as the ‘National River’ of India in 2008. The Ganga Action Plan is another initiative that was launched in 1985 to improve water quality by intercepting, diverting, and treating domestic sewage. There’s also the Bhuvan-Ganga Web App, which encourages public participation in monitoring pollution entering the Ganga river.