Mapping
GIGA mapping….
Looking for connections between stakeholders and other factors related to the river system
Research
The beginning
We started by gathering secondary research data as much as possible, from various online articles, e- books, magazines. All thanks to the articles from Times of India, The Indian Express, Tehelka magazine, WWF documents, Gangapedia, research material from IIT’s and all those NGO’s who are dedicated to the cause of saving the river
The Social Experiment
At the Ghats, we observed that the people themselves contributed in polluting the river knowingly or unknowingly. People peed there on the Ghats. Threw plastic wastes into the river. Used soaps and detergents. They openly defecated on the banks and Ghats. Also, it’s a cultural norm that the dead bodies of Priests, children and people died of snake bite, shouldn’t be burned, but thrown away into the river. These decaying corpses can spread a number of deadly diseases.
Thus we decided to conduct an experiment.
Case studies
There have been many past attempts from the Government to save the river Ganga, which includes the ‘infamous’ Ganga action plans 1 & 2, which were finally dubbed as ‘Colossal failures’. Here are some case studies which cover both the GAP’s as well as some noticeable works done by some NGO’s . NGO’s have been persistent entities which monitor the functioning and flaws of the Government.
Field research compilation
The insights we gained from talking to all those people whom we met during our field visit, was tremendous. We interviewed local people, pilgrims, pandits, heads of NGO’s and health officials. Above is a compilation of all the primary data we got.
Seeking from Experts….
Prof. Gopal Nath, Institute of Medical Sciences, Microbiology Dept. Banaras Hindu University
‘Every solution is there in the nature itself, we just need to find it’
There are 2 types of pollution: Biological and chemical pollution. Open field defecation is common. Bacteria count shouldn’t be too high or too less, they also have an essential role in the food chain. People who stay near river are more immune to cholera and other related illnesses, due to specific viruses. Diseases mostly occur due to the mixing up of drinking water supply and sewer water. Surface runoff causes pesticides and DDT used in agriculture in the nearby areas, enter the river system.
But chemical pollution is more dangerous than biological, like arsenic and cadmium poisoning, due to industrial wastes. Physiochemical reactions of nature cleanse the river automatically, but overuse has disrupted it.
Viruses can be mixed in the sewage plant and thus kill the disease causing bacteria. There are also certain kind of bacterium which can eat up the chemicals. Cyano bacterium present in the river, produce toxins and makes the water unfit for bathing.
Filter size for water filters should be 0.22 microns to filter out viruses. But in generally used water filters, its just 0.45 microns, which is just enough to filter out bacterium, but not viruses.
Local people are immune, but it takes up their body strength.
34000 tortoises were released to water in order to preserve the turtle species as well as clean ganga of biological wastes like decaying dead animal bodies.
Mr RK Mishra, Sankat Mochan Foundation
Engineer
‘Go, ask government, why asking me ?’
‘Main source of pollution is the industrial sewage. Government should do something, that’s what we have been trying to do for the last 20 yrs. Pollution from Kanpur and Allahabad don’t actually affect Varanasi, due to the natural cleaning effect of the river, determined by many factors. The issues is, we are over exploiting this natural cleansing effect of the river.’
The main activities right now are awareness building and proposing feasible and efficient solutions to the government, and forcing them to take the necessary steps. Gravity sewage was one such solution proposed, which he says is practically feasible. Sewage and agricultural runoff are the main causes of pollution. He says Modi has got the will to solve the issue. He says that 95 % of ganga pollution is caused by untreated sewage, and industrial wastes, and only 5% by human and other biological wastes. Solve the 95 % first, then the 5% will happen automatically. Ganga is giving us a chance to correct ourselves. If we don’t do it, she will do it, with revenge.
On the Ghats of Banaras
The ghats are the local name given to the steps that lead down to the sacred waters of the River Ganges.On them live the Sadhus – ascetic Hindu holy men – who share them with pilgrims from all over the world. Locals and their children also spend much of their time on the ghats, praying or working.
Talking to people …..
Seller
She sells mala of all kinds, including those made of rudraksh, lotus seeds, stones etc. She sits at one particular place on the Ghat throughout the day. Make a tent with Sari, when the sun is at zenith. She, drinks directly from the river. Has 4 kids, and all are being educated. She says the Ghats have no proper toilet for women. Not a big issue for men, since they pee in corners of the ghats. During monsoon, when water floods and covers the place where she sits, she doesn’t do the job.
Pujari
‘Ye aas pas ke hotel hai, Kanpur ke factoriyan hai, steamer hai(boat), sab mila jula ke pradhushan karte hain.’
According to him Ganga water is still pure as compared to supply water
They don’t face any health issues because as ganga water gets polluted their immune system also starts building accordingly.
Regular visitor
‘Gandgi apne mein hai.Kaun saaf karega ?’
He owns a bookstall near the river. Since 1992, he has been bathing regularly in the river. But recently, started suffering from skin diseases, don’t know whether it is because of the water. He says steamer boats cause pollution, due to the oil and fuel released. Dams increase the effect of pollution. He says that the Tehri dam should have been made somewhere away, where it won’t have much effect on the livelihoods of people. He says the rules should be made with no partiality.
Fisherman
‘Ganga maako hum kahan chod ke jayenge, Ganga maake humg khud hi kitanu hai’
‘Ganga maiya ka pani nahi piyenge toh pet nahi bharega’
He is doing the job since past 10 yrs. Get 4- 5 kgs of fish per day. Does part time labour work. According to them, dam is the cause for decline in the fish.
Sadho
‘Do cheez ke liye log aate hain yahan pe – learning or burning ke liye’
According to him, people come to Banaras for 2 purposes, learning and Burning. If u preserve ganga, she will preserve the cities .
Nothing would be change until unless every individual take part in spreading awareness and at individual level everyone should clean their surroundings. He says foreigner are easier to handle if u compare them with our brothers (local people).
Fisherman
‘Bandh khul jaye, ganga maiyya ka pani phir se seese ki tarah ho jayega’
His is a fisherman, but also a part time painter.
Amongst fisherman community Tehri dam is the biggest problem as it hinders the flow of water and makes it stagnant and it effect the seasonal aquatic migrations and self-cleaning process of water also gets effected .sometimes they hardly find fishes in the river even if they get its very less in no. so to fullfill their basic needs they do parts jobs (painter ,labour etc)
Boatman
His customers include all kinds of people, including tourists, and local people. If water is more, Rs 50/ head, otherwise Rs 20/head, to go to the other side and comeback. Have an income of average Rs 8000 per month. Children are being educated. They have license to ride the boat.
Boatman
Kanhaiya naam hai hamara, jaan bachate hai logon ki.Ek paisa rupaiya lete nai hai logon se. Jo hota hai seva, ganga maiya se mil jata hai.’
According to him government do provide funds to clean ganga but because of corruption and peoples mentality nothing happens.
Pilgrim
‘Sewage band karwana hamare hath mein nahi hai, political support chahiye hoga’
His main motive of journey to banaraswas to visit sankatmochantemple.heis also a frequent visitor to haridwar.
Since he has been to these two religious places according to him in haridwar there are strict rules for visitors which is lacking in banaras.
Local people are aware of pollution but still they continuing such activities which pollutes ganga
Washerman
‘Ganga kisi ke baap ki nahi hai, sabki hai‘
He is a traditional washer man. He usually gets contract on a bulk from hotels, to wash clothes. He also has a small shop for washing clothes. His clients are from all castes. He is ever willing to quit his traditional job and do an alternate job, if government provides.
According to him, the use of detergents actually clean Ganga, and disinfects it. So the use of detergents is good for the river.
Sweeper
‘Ganga maiya pavitra hai, kitna bhi kudada liye, admi piyega insaan’
He cleans the MunshiGhat. Appointed by the Clarks Hotel Group, who currently owns the Ghat. He sweeps the ghat3 – 4 times a day. He says drinks directly from the river. He says the existing dustbins installed, got flown away in the floods.
Baba
‘Sarkar kya karegi woh to paise de k kinare ho jati hai, paise se kya hoga ?’
Has been on the ghats for years. Says Nawab used to carry a box or container to spit, but now pan eating people have increased and they spit openly, spreading disease.
Dumro player
He works for Ganga Seva Nidhi, which organizes Aarti and related Poojas every day. He cleans the ghat where aarti happens and is a dumro player
Dom community
Their traditional job is cremation. They say that it is a cultural norm to throw away the corpse of Pandits, children and people died of snake bite. They say it’s just food for the fishes.
‘Nobody eats from our hands, because we are lower caste. Rate is Rs 300 per cremation, but the relatives might pay them more. They are stuck with their traditional job. They don’t have any alternate jobs to do, because they are of lower caste. Their community is mostly illiterate. They will be unemployed, if electric crematorium is functional.
Wicked Problems of Ganga
The Ganges or Ganga, is the largest river in India. It is 2.525 km long and crosses the whole country. The Ganges basin is the most heavily populated river basin in the world, with over 400 million people. It’s the most sacred river to Hindus and is also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs.
No place along her banks is more longed for at the moment of death by Hindus than Varanasi. It is the holiest place in Hinduism and often referred to as “the holy city of India“. Those who are lucky enough to die in Varanasi, are cremated on the banks of the Ganges & granted instant salvation. There are exceptions; pregnant women, children, Holy people and people who died from a snake bite are not cremated but are lowered into the river. Sooner or later they will show up at the surface again … Everything might be holy in Varanasi but nobody bothers if a dead body floats by … and they float by quite often. This is something we have never seen before but it’s nothing special in India. We would say: “dawn of the dead reality show daily from your hotel terrace” … To some of you, this shot might be too much for posting here but this is the brutal reality. So, this also means that there’s a lot pollution; the Ganges suffers from extreme pollution levels. Sewage from many cities along the river’s course, industrial waste and religious offerings wrapped in non-degradable plastics add large amounts of pollutants to the river as it flows through densely populated areas. The problem is that many poor people rely on the river on a daily basis for bathing, washing, and cooking.
The people in Varanasi don’t seem to care about the pollution of the Ganges. As I said before, for many this is the only opportunity to take a shower. Varanasi (already a city of millions) is visited by many thousands of pilgrims each year who want to take a “holy dip” in the Ganges. Only this city releases around 200 million litres of untreated human sewage into the river each day.
Cremation on the ghat
Domestic waste
Sewage into the river
Wicked Problems of Ganga 
