The Hindon River, once a lifeline for the communities along its banks, has now become a toxic stream due to unchecked industrial effluents and inadequate sewage treatment facilities. Sprouting from the Shivalik Hills in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh the Hindon goes through different districts then discharges into the Yamuna River in Gautama Buddha Nagar. But the river has a varied route right from its infancy filled with pollution problems which have consistently made the river producer of poisonous water.
The Source of Pollution
The primary source of water pollution at the Hindon is industries and factories with source discharging their waste products directly to the river. Report also revealed that many of these establishments dump their untreated wastes right into the river particularly during the rainy season when the river flow is high. These effluents include heavy metals, chemicals which pollute water rendering it non potable and damaging to aquatic life.
Besides industrial pollution there are no proper sewage treatment facilities to address this situation. Many households along the river rely on hand pumps for their water supply, drawing contaminated groundwater that has been polluted by the industrial effluents. It has also resulted into increase in waterborne diseases as well as other diseases among the people of the region.
Effect on Health and Environment
The water which is sourced from the Hindon River is said to be causing serious problems to the health of the people living beside it. Research has also revealed high levels of toxic polluters which have raised tendencies of serious diseases like cancer, liver diseases, and kidney diseases. The village of Shimlana Mu is an example, it had experienced more than one hundred cancer deaths in the recent past decade and it has been discovered that it has higher rates of cancer incidence than the national average rates of the country.
This brings about the question of how the technology is affecting the environment. It has cut off the river’s ecological functions greatly and the current threatens to kill any lives in its proximity. This has also brought pollution on the soil hence making agriculture as a difficult task for farmers who uses this river for irrigation purposes.
Efforts to Address the Issue
Nevertheless, attempts to solve the problem remain sluggish and insufficient. Some recent measures have also been seen being taken by our National Green Tribunal (NGT): At least and several factories throughout the country have been shut down on the grounds they were emitting polluted water effluents. But there are still many dyeing units violating the law and releasing dangerous chemicals into the water of the river.
Hindon River
The Hindon River is one of the major affiliated tributary of ‘Yamuna’ which had its origin from Upper Shivalik hills at Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. About 400 km long, it flows through: Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar districts and joins the Yamuna at Noida.
The Hindon River has been contributing to the needs of irrigation and local people living along the river channel for years. The catchment area of the river comprises arable land, which have earlier been used for variety of crops such as sugarcane, wheat and paddy. Fish and birds are some of the living organisms one is likely to find in this river thus increasing the regions diversity in the face of the ever increasing environmental changes.
However, pollution remains one of the most significant problems of the Hindon River. Concentrated industrial effluents coupled with untreated sewage, agricultural drainage have leached the water quality. Industries are major contributor in polluting the river through the release of dangerous chemicals; particularly sugar industries, pulp and paper industries, and electroplating industries. This pollution has caused declination in the quality of water in the aquatic life has been greatly affected and has been proved to pose serious health concerns to the communities that depend on the use of water from the river.
Over the recent past, measures have been enhanced to try and reduce the levels of pollution affecting the Hindon River and bring back its functionality. The NGT and non-governmental organisations have been trying to put pressure to enhance the pollution control measures and encouraged sustainable practices. It include: construction of Sewage Treatment Plants, water quality monitoring, and citizen-driven river-cleaning campaigns.
Sources of River Water Pollution in India
Water pollution of rivers in India is a current and acute problem in regard to the continuous negative impacts that threaten the physical well-being of the people of India together with other living organisms that exist within the rivers and other bodies of waters. India, which is blessed with so many rivers, has many problems to address in terms of water quality. Some main sources of river water pollution in India are Industrial effluents, Agricultural wash water, sewage from domestic sources, and polluting human activities. Here, we delve into these key causes:
Industrial Discharge
Industrial pollution is one of the prime agents of river pollution in India and this pollution finds its root from the lack of regulation of effluents from industries. Industrial water discharges have scenarios in which factories and units discharge raw or partly treated effluents to the river. This wastewater consists of hazardous chemical, metal and toxic compounds which are very reactive and can pollute water in bad way. The textile, leather, pulp and paper, chemical manufacturing and electroplating industries are well known to discharge poisonous waste into the rivers. This problem is worsened by low compliance with environmental laws, which continue to see industries discharge pollutants in the rivers unabated.
Agricultural Runoff
Besides being support to India’s economy, agriculture sometimes contributes to river pollution. The farming practices involve massive application of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, which, as water courses progress, end up in rivers. These chemical can lead to eutrophication, a process that strips water of its oxygen hence killing the aquatic Species. In addition, such runoff can transport sediments, organic matter, and pathogen from livestock waste into the rivers to affect the health of humans and animals.
Domestic Sewage
Another major source of river pollution in India is the direct disposal / discharge of untreated or only partially, treated domestic sewage. Population density and urban development have caused extensive sewage production, and more often, the available sewage treatment plants cannot contain the volume of sewage. Consequently, untreated sewage is discharged in high quantities in rivers and this cause pollution by microorganisms, nutrients, and organic loads. This type of pollution is not only damaging the water, but also to human health since water borne diseases like cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis etc. are on the rise.
Waste Disposal
Another factor that results to river pollution is the throwing away of solid wastes. This is the reason why Rivers end up as dustbins with people dumping meats, plastics, and all other manner of inedible items. The end products block the water channels, upset the balance of the water bio community and emit toxic fumes upon biodegradation. However, population growth also increases the incidence of open defecation that still exists today in rural areas, and this also contributes to water pollution with fecal matter and parasites.
Extraction of sand and construction works
Pollution of the rivers also results from unlawful sand extraction and other construction operations along the river courses. Sand extraction causes rivers to flow more slowly, accumulate more sand in rivers, and erode river banks. Construction exercises are characterised with the generation of construction debris, outflow of chemicals and pollutants in the rivers. Such activities alter the quality of physical and chemical characteristics of water in the river to the detriment of aquatic life and people.
Measures to Curb River Pollution in India
Water pollution in India is a major problem that has potential disastrous effects on the health of the people, the creatures in the aquatic systems and the environment in general. This has called for the need for policy reforms, community awareness, advance technologies, and most importantly the enforcement of the already laid down policies. Here are some comprehensive measures that can be taken to curb river pollution in India:
- Enforce Strict Compliance: The government must keep a very close check on the implementation of the currently existing laws and regulation related to environment. The negatives of waste management are expected to arise from industries and municipalities that should be made liable for their actions. They proposed severe consequences for the violation of the requirements of the law as an effective prevention of the discharge of the untreated effluents and sewage into rivers.
- Update and Implement Policies: The incorporation of the current science and technology in approaches to policy improvements could boost pollution control measures. It is therefore paramount for provision of inclusive comprehensive river management plans that contain measures of discrete pollution sources. Policies should encourage sustainable development and aim at the economy and the conservation of natural resources at the same time.
- Establish Adequate Sewage Treatment Facilities: A big part of the pollution is caused by the rivers receiving untreated sewage from the communities around. Sustained efforts should be made for constructing and developing new STPs and keeping existing ones in good working order in both city and country. Such facilities should be able to accommodate the growing volumes of wastes which are in form of wastewater due to growing populations.
- Promote Waste Segregation and Recycling: Promoting waste source separation may help minimize the rate of pollution on landfills as well as ensure minimal chances of solid waste finding their way to water sources. Cost effective recycling systems must be put in place with a focus on plastics, metals and other items, which have high prospects in causing pollution. People may be enlightened through programs such as public enlightenment through awareness campaigns on issues on waste disposal.
- Implement Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Systems: It is proposed that industries should implement ZLD policies because these would mean that no wastewater at all is released to water sources. Waste charging and tariffs can be applied to sectors that use ZLD and other excellent treatment processes.
- Regular Monitoring and Inspection: It is recommended that the discharge of industrial effluent be closely monitored while industrial units should be routinely checked for compliance with the set standards. Shining the light on data and setting up monitoring systems in real time often leads to higher levels of accountability.
- Promote Sustainable Agriculture: One way of minimising agricultural runoff, which pollutes the rivers is by decreasing the application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Organic farming and use of bio-fertilizers in production should be promoted as this helps in improving the health of the soil and also decreases pollution. Some of the approaches that can be taken to reduce impacts include practicing advanced farm management measures like contoured farming and growing of trees within farm land.
- Rainwater Harvesting and Efficient Irrigation: Focusing on the water harvesting practices and on introduction of low cost and water efficient irrigation techniques like drip and sprinkler systems, the utilization of river water for agriculture can be minimized. They can help save water and mitigate the cases of nutrient pollution to rivers.
- Community Involvement: local people need to be involved in the process of river conservation. Awareness raising and involving the members of the community through campaigns like river sweepers, tree plantations near/ along the riverbanks help develop a kind of ownership. They also show that the use of local knowledge and local participation in pollution control will improve the achievements of control measures.
- Educational Campaigns: The strategy of educating people about the cases of river pollution and the consequences that occur due to the pollution can lead to changes in the behaviour of people. The schools, colleges and community centres can arrange workshops; seminars and other activities wherein the citizens can be made aware about sustainability and clean river importance.
- Develop and Deploy Innovative Technologies: Extensive research and development in new technological application in water treatment and pollution control is a feasible strategy. Some of the ways by which polluted rivers can be treated include; bioremediation, constructed wetlands and high quality filtration systems.
- Utilize Remote Sensing and GIS: Existing advanced technology like remote sensing and GIS have potentiality of applying same in river health assessment, identification of pollution sources and evaluating remedial measures. These tools can give out important information for decision making and for planning purposes.