Ganga

Govt study suggests incentives to tackle Ganga's 'ghost gear' crisis

In a bid to combat escalating plastic pollution in the Ganga, a government-funded study has proposed a "cash-for-nets" scheme aimed at incentivising fishers to return worn-out or abandoned fishing nets. These abandoned, lost or discarded synthetic nets -- referred to as "ghost gear" -- pose a severe, long-term threat to aquatic ecosystems. Conducted over five years by the Wildlife Institute of India, the study forms part of the long-term conservation initiative -- Planning and Management for Aquatic Species Conservation and Maintenance of Ecosystem Services in the Ganga River Basin for a Clean Ganga. Based on extensive riverine and socioeconomic surveys, the study recorded 72 incidents of aquatic species becoming entangled in fishing gear -- both active and abandoned. The researchers documented fishing gear and materials every five kilometres along the river. For the socioeconomic survey, 150 key informant interviews, 10 focal group discussions with fishers, and personal observatio

A string of airports in Gangetic plains aims to change the face of travel

These airports in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal could also provide logistics services and help bring down notoriously high freight charges out of these states

Maha Kumbh 2025: Ganga water was fit for bathing, govt tells Parliament

The govt told the Parliament that Triveni Sangam water was fit for bathing during Maha Kumbh 2025, citing a Central Pollution Control Board report confirming it met safety standards

PM Modi offers prayers to Goddess Ganga at Uttarakhand's Mukhwa temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered prayers at Mukhwa temple -- the winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi district. Mukhwa is located on the way to the Gangotri temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Her idol is moved to Mukhwa temple from Gangotri Dham every year after the closure of its gates for winter. The prime minister will flag off a trek and bike rally and address a public meeting in Harshil. Modi's visit to the temple, his first as prime minister, is expected to boost winter pilgrimage and tourism in Uttarakhand. It comes a day after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs headed by him approved two major ropeway projects to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib worth over Rs 6,000 crore. The Uttarakhand government has initiated a Winter Tourism programme this year to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy, homestays and businesses, among others. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended a warm welcome to the prime minister in a post on X. "A hear

Maha Kumbh ends with 650 mn attendees; crosses estimated figure of 400 mn

The Maha Kumbh wasn't without its controversies and untoward incidents. A stampede on January 29 led to the deaths of at least 30 people and left 60 injured, according to the UP government

Prayagraj water fails bathing standards during Maha Kumbh; key details

Maha Kumbh Mela: A CPCB report dated February 3 highlighted that faecal coliform levels at all monitored locations were above the permissible limit, indicating significant sewage contamination

Maha Kumbh: Ganga Aarti in Varanasi on hold till Feb 5 amid crowd surge

Authorities have stopped the Ganga Aarti performed at the ghats of Varanasi for the general public till February 5, considering a surge in crowd. Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal has appealed to the people of Kashi not to leave their house unnecessarily and to cooperate with the devotees. Ganga Seva Nidhi President Sushant Mishra on Friday said the Ganga Aarti performed at Dashashwamedh Ghat will remain closed for the general public till February 5. Similarly, the committees performing Ganga Aarti at Sheetla Ghat, Assi Ghat and other ghats have also appealed to the general public, visitors and devotees not to come for it till February 5. A large number of devotees returning from Prayagraj Maha Kumbh are still stranded at Varanasi Cantt and Banaras railway stations. Many devotees said that they could not catch their train due to the excessive crowd. In addition, hundreds have stranded at stations due to the cancellation of some of the trains. Bobby Maya Limbu from Assam's Sonicpu

Tripping Down the Ganga: A seeker's journey through faith and history

Siddharth Kapila's debut book explores faith, memory, and human connections along the sacred Ganga

Even 'originating point' of Ganga polluted by STP discharge: Govt to NGT

The National Green Tribunal has been informed that according to an Uttarakhand government's report on pollution in Ganga, even the "originating point" of the pious river is polluted by sewage treatment plant (STP) discharge. The submission was made during the proceedings about the prevention and control of pollution in Ganga in Uttarakhand. The tribunal had earlier sought a report from the state and others. A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted the submissions of the advocate of one of the intervening applicants, who referring to the state's report, pointed out that a faecal coliform having the most probable number (MPN) of 540/100 ml was found in the sample collected from the 1 million litres per day (MLD) capacity sewage treatment plant (STP) at Gangotri. Faecal coliform (FC) levels show pollution from the microbes from the excreta of humans and animals. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) water quality criteria, an MPN of less than 500/1

Devotees take holy dip in Ganga at Patna Ghat on first-day of Chhath Puja

The four-day Chhath puja celebrations were observed by devotees on Tuesday morning at the Kalindi Kunj Chhath Ghat in Delhi

New Ganga bridge in Varanasi: A 150-year solution for traffic woes

The Union Cabinet, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a massive Rs 2,642 crore project for the rail-cum-road bridge's construction which will be completed in four years

Bihar CM makes aerial survey to assess rising water level in Ganga

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday conducted an aerial survey to assess the rising Ganga river water level in Patna and surrounding areas. The CM was accompanied by senior officials of the state administration. The water level in the Ganga river crossed the danger mark at several places in the state capital on Friday. "At Gandhi Ghat in Patna, the Ganga river is flowing above the danger mark of 48.60 metre (till 6 am on Friday). Similarly at Hathidah and Digha Ghat, the Ganga is flowing above the danger mark of 41.76 metre and 50.45 metre respectively", according to a statement issued by the district administration here on Friday. Several low-lying areas in Patna rural and Nalanda districts have also been flooded as portions of certain small dams were damaged at four places due to sudden increase in water levels in Falgu and Sakri rivers following heavy rainfall in Jharkhand over the past few days, officials said. The low-lying areas which witnessed flood-like situation .

NMCG approves 9 projects worth Rs 265 cr to reduce pollution in Ganga

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved nine significant projects worth Rs 265 crore aimed at reducing pollution and enhancing the ecosystem of the Ganga river, according to an official statement. These projects were greenlit during the 56th executive committee meeting chaired by NMCG Director General Rajeev Kumar Mital in New Delhi. One of the projects involves the establishment of an eight kilolitres per day (KLD) capacity Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant in Dalmau of Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, it said. The plant will be supported by a 15 KW solar power Plant and a solar inverter. Valued at Rs 4.40 crore, the project operates on a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) model and includes five years of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) to ensure its long-term success. In Bulandshahr district's Gulaothi town, another project focuses on preventing pollution in the East Kali River, a tributary of the Ganga. This initiative, having a budget of Rs 50.98 crore, involves

Kanwar Yatra row: SC extends stay on UP govt order, says can't force anyone

The Supreme Court bench refused to issue any clarification on the July 22 stay order saying 'we have said what needed to be said in our previous order'

Kanwar Yatra 2024: Significance, routes, guidelines & all you need to know

The arduous Kanwar Yatra, undertaken as part of worshipping Lord Shiva, is considered an act of faith and devotion and symbolises the eternal bond between devotees and the deity

Downpour in Haridwar, cars swept away in U'khand's flooded Sukhi river

Heavy rain lashed Haridwar on Saturday afternoon and several cars washed away after flooding in the Sukhi river here. Rainwater gushed into homes and left major roads in the pilgrimage town waterlogged. As the rainfed Sukhi river is generally dry, people habitually park their cars on the dry riverbed. As the river got flooded all of a sudden, the cars were swept away in the swirling waters. The river joins the mainstream of the Ganga a short distance away. People gathered on the bridges over the Ganga near Har ki Pauri to capture the visuals of the floating cars on mobile cameras.

What is the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty that has sparked Mamata-Centre row?

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has written to PM Modi, claiming that the Centre excluded the state govt from discussions with Bangladesh on Teesta water sharing and Farakka treaty

Centre refutes Mamata Banerjee's claim on Ganga Water Treaty review

West Bengal was consulted on the review of the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, sources at the Centre said here on Monday, dismissing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that the state was kept out of the process. The sources said the joint secretary (works) in the irrigation and waterways department of the West Bengal government conveyed in April the state's total demand for the next 30 years from the stretch downstream of the Farakka Barrage. India and Bangladesh signed the Ganga Water Treaty in 1996. The 30-year treaty is due to expire in 2026 but may be extended by mutual agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that India and Bangladesh will begin technical-level talks for the renewal of the 1996 treaty. In a letter to Modi, Banerjee had claimed that the decision to start talks for the renewal of the treaty was "unilateral" and urged the prime minister not to hold any such discussion with Bangladesh without involving the West Bengal government. The

Earthquake 2,500 years ago could have changed Ganga's course: Study

An earthquake around 2,500 years ago could have caused the Ganga river to abruptly change course, according to a new study published. Researchers said the "undocumented" quake, possibly of magnitude 7-8, rerouted the main channel of the river in present day Bangladesh, a country vulnerable to big seismic shocks. "I don't think we have ever seen such a big one (earthquake) anywhere," said study co-author Michael Steckler, a geophysicist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia Climate School, US. "It could have easily inundated anyone and anything in the wrong place at the wrong time," Steckler said. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. Originating in the Himalayas, the river Ganga eventually combines with other major rivers, including the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, before culminating in the Bay of Bengal. The rivers form the world's second-largest system, the Amazon being the largest. Many river-course changes, called 'avulsions', including some tha

Ganges, Brahmaputra among major river basins to feel climate change impact

The alarming impact of climate change will be felt on South Asia's major river basins, including the Ganges, Indus and the Brahmaputra, according to a new report. It also noted that critical intersection of anthropogenic activities and shifting climate patterns can spell dire consequences for about a billion people in the area. According to the report -- "Elevating River Basin Governance and Cooperation in the HKH Region" -- on these three rivers, there is an immediate need for a climate-resilient approach to river basin management. The Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) are the freshwater sources of South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. Water originating from their snow, glaciers and rainfall feed the 10 largest river systems in Asia. The Ganges basin, often regarded as sacred and essential to more than 600 million individuals across the Indian subcontinent, is facing mounting environmental threats. Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and intensive agricultural practices have exacted