G N G GROUP

Dehradun: A major stretch of the Ganga river flowing in Uttarakhand, including Haridwar's Har-ki-Pauri ghat, is unfit for  "direct drinking", as per a recent report by the Uttarakhand pollution control board. The data was collated by the board. The data collated by the board shows that the river carries fecal coliform (human excreta) and industrial effluents making it unsafe for consumption.
The total coliform (TC) load of the 'contaminated stretch' is 63, higher than the safe limit of 50.
Samples of Ganga water taken before the start of the Char Dham yatra were collected by the state pollution control board from Bhagirath Bindu up to Roorkee at 12 spots and in all the points, the pollution levels were found to be of major concern.
What is worrying authorities further is that river is likely to get polluted even more during the Char Dham yatra due to the huge influx of pilgrims and ineffective solid waste management in the hills. Most of the waste is being directly dumped into the river or burnt along the riverside.
Meanwhile, in some consolation, water samples showed the improved presence of dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen, which are good for aquatic beings. Water in the Har-Ki-Pauri stretch showed a good amount of dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand of 3gm/1tr and 1.1 to 2.5 mg/1tr, respectively.
Told, SP Subudhi, member secretary, Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, claimed that "till Rishikesh, the overall water quality is A and in Haridwar also, the dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand is in A category even now."