Ganga (Ganges), river
a
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Gomukh
Once upon a time not very long ago, say old timers, Gomukh, the snout of the Gangotri glacier --source of the Ganga river -extended as far as Gangotri town, located almost 18 km away. However, uncontrolled development activities including deforestation, rampant construction and unregulated flow of tourists (and the pollution caused by their vehicles) has caused the glacier -which is around 30-km long and between .5 to 2.5 km wide -to not just recede but also raised worries over the continuing health of the source of the country's most revered river. “Gangotri glacier has been under a state of continuous recession since 1935 . The Geological Survey of India which monitored the glacier from 1935 till 1996 found that the glacier retreated by 1147 metres, with an average rate of 19 mtryear between 1935 and 1996. The total area vacated by the glacier during 1935 to 1996 is estimated to be 5, 78,100 sq mtr,“ says DP Dobhal, scientist at the Centre For Glaciology, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun.
A study carried out by the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) between 2000 and 2016 found that the glacier receded almost 150 metres in just 16 years.“In 2000, the glacier retreated at the rate of 14 In partnership with metres each year; in 2012, by 12 metreyear, in 2015 by 10 metreyear and in 2016 by 20 metre per year,“ says Asha Thapliyal, scientist with USAC. She added that the Gangotri glacier is retreating “largely due to climate change and partially because of excessive human interference with tourists and devotees using the area quite frequently.“ “The snout of the glacier has become wider with fragmentation and the continuous melting,“ she told.
What is especially worrying scien tists is that the glacier's base is also thinning and has become more fragile.Kireet Kumar, scientist at the Almorabased GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD) who has extensively researched the glacier, terms this as “the most devastating effect of climate change.“ “Gangotri is a gigantic glacier which because of its size, takes longer to show any change with regard to climate change. However, the impact of climate change on it becomes perceptible through small glacier tributaries which are situated above it.These tributary glaciers melt faster due to increase in temperature and thus, water generated from them flow down and seep into the crevasses of Gangotri glacier. This is resulting in a situation where the glacier is melting from the bottom.“
He added that “the water melting from the glacier bottom has not increased the water flow emanating from the glacier which shows that the water is evaporating due to temperature increase.“ “Since the tributaries situated on the right side of Gangotri glacier are hitting its right bottom, therefore its right side corner has receded the most.This ultimately means breakage and loss of storage of water,“ says Kumar.
Scientists warn that if the situation continues like this, there will be a severe water shortage for the Ganga at its source. “The process of Gangotri glacier receding has been ongoing for last 250 years at a gradual pace but has picked up pace in the last few decades. If it continues like this, it will soon lead to a situation when there will be serious scarcity of water. Hence, it is very important to strike a balance with the environment,“ says Dobhal.
Seconding these views, Harshwanti Bisht, an Arjuna award winning mountaineer who now helms the `Save Gangotri Project' that has been working in the Gangotri area for over two decades, says, “ The seriousness of the situation can be gauged by viewing the earlier photographs of Gangotri glacier and comparing them with the present. If one sees the picture of the glacier clicked by British photographer Samuel Burns in 1866-67 and compares it with present-day photos, it is evident that Gangotri glacier has shrunk by at least 4 to 5 km which is quite a lot.“
She says that the situation can “still be salvaged if more trees are planted.“
“In the past few years, the intensity of rainfall has increased in comparison to snowfall. This results in intense landslide activities in the region and an increase in the melting rate of the glacier.There is an urgent need to plant more trees in the area to arrest this.“
Impact of debris on Gaumukh
Debris alters course of Ganga near Gaumukh, Oct 17 2017: The Times of India
The snout of the Gangotri glacier -Gaumukh -from where the Ganga river emerges has been so impacted by debris falling from nearby areas due to landslides that it has altered the course of the river. This startling discovery was made during a recently-organised trek from Gangotri to Gaumukh (of which TOIwas a part) during which environmentalists and scientists found that not only have cracks appeared in the glacier situated at a height of around 13,200 feet (4,023 m), but also a lake-like structure has formed here from where the main stream of the Ganga (known as Bhagirathi) is flowing. Scientists found that because of the formation of the lake, the river is now flowing from the left side of the glacial snout instead of straight as was the case earlier. Navin Juyal, senior scientist at the Physical Research Laboratory , Ahmedabad, who was part of the trek, told TOI that if the Ganga continues to flow in its changed course from the lake, it might eventually lead to collapse of Gaumukh.
“A stream emanating from a tributary glacier was blocked probably due to the heavy rain which occurred in the month of July . This impounded stream got breached and released enormous amount of paraglacial debris in the form of alluvial fan, which changed the course of the river. If the glacier continues to melt and water continues to follow on the path of paraglacial debris touching the glacier snout, then large pieces of the snout will collapse,“ said Navin Juyal, senior scientist, Physical Research Laboratory , Ahmedabad who was part of the 61-member trekking team that visited the area between October 11 and 14.
Pictures clicked by Gulab Singh Negi who has been vis Singh Negi who has been visiting Gaumukh almost every year since 1970s (to capture the change in the glacial snout through photographs), show a drastic change in the appearance of Gaumukh.Not only do the pictures support the claims of the crack that has appeared in the snout but also show how the debris from the nearby mountains has changed the course of Ganga leading to the formation of a lake here.
Healing properties
Does not putrefy easily despite pollution
Shimona Kanwar, `Polluted Ganga still has healing touch', Sep 25 2016 : The Times of India
Until now, it was believed that the healing properties of the Ganga were merely the stuff of myths. However, scientists from the Institute of Microbial Technology (Imtech), Chandigarh, have for the first time come forward with scientific evidence that the water of Ganga does not putrefy easily . They have identified new viruses, or bacteriophages, which mimic bacteria in the river's sediment and eat them up.
The scientific world has always been baffled by the antiseptic properties of Ganga's waters. In 1896, British physician E Hanbury Hankin observed that cholera microbes died within three hours in its water, but thrived in distilled water. This remained hypothetical until Imtech experts found the new viruses.
Imtech is one of the laboratories of the CSIR. The study has revealed 20 to 25 types of bacteriophages in the river which can fight microorganisms that cause diseases like tuberculosis, pneumonia, cholera and urinary tract infection, among others. “We analysed the viral metagenomes in sediments of the Ganga and found different types of phages, said Dr Shanmugam Mayilraj, senior principal scientist at Imtech. He said the sediments house several novel viruses, which were never reported earlier. These are active against certain bacterial strains and can be used against multidrug resistant infections.
The team collected samples from the highly polluted Haridwar-Varanasi stretch.Also part of the project were National Environment Engineering Research Institute co-ordinating lab, National Botanical Research Institute, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research and Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.
Impact on lives
Floods destroy lives in Bijnor
The Times of India, August 25, 2016
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Harveer Dabas
Every year at least 25 villages on the banks of the Ganga get flooded during the monsoon season due to the lack of an embankment. Apart from facing economic hardships because of crop loss and soil erosion, villagers here also say that they are now finding it difficult to get brides for youths of marriageable age.Families from other villages outrightly reject any proposal for marriage, saying that their daughters would rather sit at home than get married to a person who lives in a flooded village.
The Ganga, which enters Bijnor district from Uttarakhand, was a blessing for the villagers living near the river and annual flooding rendered the soil fertile. The river used to flow about 3-4 km away from the Bijnor's villages on Muzaffarnagar-Bijnor border. Farmers were prosperous and lived a happy life. But since the past several years, the situation has changed. The Ganga has become a nightmare for the farmers here, as the river is continuously changing its course and rapid erosion is threatening the existence of some villages here. At present, the Ganga's main stream flows ve ry close to these village.
During monsoon season, the Ganga floods about 25 villages here, including Gauspur, Simli, Fatehpur, Keharpur, Rajarampur, Kundanpurtip, Meerapur, Daibalgarh, Ravli, Brahampuri, Rampur Thak ra, Jivanpuri, etc, destroying crops, agricultural land and houses.
Pollution
The extent in 2017, and issues
Jacob Koshy, October 21, 2017: The Hindu
How polluted is the river?
Coursing about 2,500 km, the Ganga is the longest river within India’s borders. Its basin constitutes 26% of the country’s land mass (8,61,404 sq. km.) and supports 43% of India’s population. Even as its basin traverses 11 States, five States are located along the river’s main stem spanning Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. Much of the river’s pollution load — from chemical effluents, sewage, dead bodies, and excreta — comes from these States. In the Ganga basin, approximately 12,000 million litres per day (mld) of sewage is generated, for which there is now a treatment capacity of just 4,000 mld. Particularly, on the stretch spanning Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, approximately 3,000 mld of sewage is discharged, and a treatment capacity of just 1,000 mld has been created to treat it. Though the contribution of industrial pollution, volume-wise, is about 20%, its toxic and non-biodegradable nature has a disproportionate impact. The industrial pollutants largely emanate from tanneries in Kanpur, distilleries, paper mills and sugar mills in the Kosi, Ramganga and Kali river catchments. Then there is the municipal sewage which, at about a billion litres a day, generates 80% of the pollution load. This spans a wide range, from run-off in rural settlements to carcasses floated down the river.
What is the government doing?
The BJP included the cleaning of the Ganga in its 2014 election manifesto. The Narendra Modi government earmarked ₹20,000 crore for the clean-up and promised that the river would be clean by 2020. Former Union Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharti said the river would be clean by 2018 but the new Minister, Nitin Gadkari, indicated that this deadline was unlikely to be met. He, however, said the river would be “noticeably clean” by March 2019.
What has been done so far? (till October 2017)
The government has set up an empowered authority called the National Mission for Clean Ganga. This is a dedicated team of officers who are responsible for disbursing the ₹20,000 crore fund towards a variety of projects that involve setting up of sewage treatment plants (STPs), replacing woodfired crematoriums with electric ones or those that use fuel more efficiently, setting up biodiversity parks that will enable native species — from the Gangetic river dolphin to rare turtles — to replenish their numbers and planting trees to improve the water table in the surrounding regions and prevent soil erosion. The authorities focussed on having trash skimmers ply along the river and collecting garbage, and improving crematoria. However the big task — of installing sewage treatment plants — is grossly delayed. Barely ₹2,000 crore of the ₹20,000 crore has been spent so far. The government says this has taken time because it wanted to put in place an extremely transparent tendering process. It has also established a system called the hybrid-annuity model, used in commissioning highways, for selecting firms that will manage STPs. Under this, firms would be given nearly half the money upfront to set up a plant and the rest (with a profit margin included) at regular intervals, provided they meet certain criteria over 15 years. Sixty-three sewerage management projects are being implemented in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Last week, STPs to treat 1187.33 mld were cleared for Hardwar and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
What are ‘clean river’ criteria?
The ultimate objective, for the river to be clean, would be to ensure that the coliform bacteria level, biochemical oxygen demand, pH and dissolved salts remain within the standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board.
1.3bn litres of waste flows into Ganga every day
From: Radheshyam Jadhav, 1.3bn litres of waste flows into Ganga every day, April 20, 2018: The Times of India
The government’s flagship National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has created sewage treatment capacity of just over 259 million litres per day (MLD), which is about 11% of the 2,311 MLD the programme seeks to create. With sewage treatment capacity being a fraction of what is required, over 1,300 MLD of sewage continues to flow into the main stem of the Ganga.
Overall, the Mission has 193 projects including 100 sewage treatment projects on its agenda and has completed 49 projects utilizing 21% of the funds sanctioned for all projects.
Till March 2018, it had completed 20 of the 100 sewage treatment projects.
The cabinet approved the Namami Gange programme on May 13, 2015 as a comprehensive approach to rejuvenate the Ganga by inclusion of all its tributaries under one umbrella at a total cost of Rs 20,000 crore for five years. According to the data available on the Mission website, of the 100 sewage treatment projects, 43 projects are old ones on which work was started before 2015 while the remaining 57 are new initiatives. Of the 43 old projects, 17 have been completed with treatment capacity of 259 MLD. Three of the new projects have been completed, but with related works not being completed these have not added to the capacity as yet.
The sanctioned cost for sewage infrastructure is about Rs 16,600 cr, making it by far the largest component of the overall programme. Of this, barely Rs 2,814 cr or 17% has been utilized so far.
Data presented in the Lok Sabha by the minister of state for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation shows that according to the Central Pollution Control Board, the total sewage generated from major towns/ cities in the catchment of the Yamuna is 5,236 MLD, whereas the treatment capacity developed is 3,805 MLD. Estimated sewerage generation from 97 towns located on the main stem of the Ganga is 2,953 MLD against the available treatment capacity of 1,584 MLD.
Rajiv Kishore, executive director (administration) with the NMCG said that creation of sewage treatment capacity takes 2-2.5 years to finish. NMCG was registered as a society in August, 2011. “After that it took some time to create a set up and posting of people. . You can’t expect sewage treatment plants to start functioning within two years. . By this year-end, some projects will start treating sewage” said Kishore.
Less than 33% of urban waste is processed
Dipak Dash, October 22, 2018: The Times of India
From: Dipak Dash, October 22, 2018: The Times of India
Less than onethird of the municipal solid waste generated in the 97 cities and towns along Ganga is processed, posing a major challenge to clean the river. The urban affairs ministry has proposed to focus on segregating wet and dry waste to deal with the crisis rather than waiting for new waste processing plants to be ready.
The ministry shared the details of the sold waste generated in these cities during a presentation before water resources and Ganga rejuvenation minister Nitin Gadkari. According to the ministry data, about 11,625 tonnes of solid waste is generated from cities and towns along the river. West Bengal has the maximum share of generating about 6,132 tonnes of waste per day, more than half of the total municipal refuse.
UP has the second highest share of 3,275 tonnes of garbage generated daily while Bihar generates about 15% of the total solid waste. Data show that West Bengal has been lagging behind in comparison to other four states through which Ganga passes. The state government is yet to prepare the detailed project reports for processing 4,884 tonnes of garbage while existing plants can treat 653 tonnes of municipal waste per day. The urban affairs ministry has proposed decentralised composting of wet waste in these cities and towns, which will take care of about 40-60% of the total municipal refuse generated daily. Another 20-30% of the waste, which is dry, can be recycled or reused and the rest 5-10% of the construction and inert waste processed for building materials.
Government efforts to save the Ganga
Construction on Ganga banks in Uttarakhand banned
The Times of India, Nov 06 2015
Sharma Seema
NGT bars construction on Ganga banks in U'khand
The National Green Tribunal in Nov 2015 virtually barred construction of buildings 200 metres along the banks of the Ganga in Uttarakhand till further orders to protect pollutants from being discharged into the river. “We direct that no corporation, authority or panchayat shall grant permission for construction of building, houses, hotels or any structures within 200 metres of shore of river Ganga at the highest flood line without prior approval from the tribunal,“ a bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar said. The panel's direction came on a petition filed by advocate M C Mehta who sug gested that in Western countries rivers are protected from pollution by creating a buffer zone on the banks where no construction is allowed. Mehta contended that rapid unregulated constructions were being carried out by sim ply taking clearances from village panchayats, which are not expert bodies. He added that due to such unregulated constructions, pollutants were discharged in the Ganga and the hills have become vulnerable to landslides and earthquake. Green activists in the state, however, were a tad sceptical, saying various such orders were passed earlier too but there was lack of po itical will to implement them. Environmentalist Ravi Chopra said, “After the 2013 deluge, then CM Vijay Bahuguna had also ordered against construction within 200 metres of Ganga banks. Var ious court orders, too, had been issued. But till date, no efforts have been made to implement them. This order might meet the same fate.“
List of municipalities / Urban Local Bodies in the Ganga River Basin
From Haridwar to Diamond Harbour
This is a list of all urban areas that occur along the Ganga. They have been listed in the order in which they occur from Haridwar to Diamond Harbour. (The second or third name in each line is the precise town)
1 Haridwar Haridwar (including NPP + BHEL Ranipur) OG + ITS
2 Dehradun Rishikesh NPP
3 Chamoli Gopeshwar NPP
4 T ehri Garhwal T ehri (T apovan - Rishikesh) NPP
5 Garhwal Srinagar NPP
6 Chamoli Joshimath NPP
7 Uttarkashi Uttarkashi (Budkot) NPP
8 T ehri Garhwal Muni ki Reti - Dhaluwala NP + CT
9 Chamoli Gaucher NP
10 Chamoli Karnaprayag NP
11 Rudraprayag Rudraprayag NPP
12 Chamoli Kirtinagar NP
13 Chamoli Nandprayag NP
14 Chamoli Badrinath(puri) NP
15 T ehri Garhwal Devprayag NP
16 Allahabad Allahabad M Corp. + OG + CB
17 Farrukhabad Farrukkabad NPP
18 Ghazipur Ghazipur NPP + OG
19 Kanpur Nagar Kanpur M Corp. + OG + CB
20 Mirzapur Mirzapur NPP
21 V aranasi V aranasi M Corp.
22 Chandauli Mughal Sarai NPP
23 Moradabad Moradabad (Ramganga) M Corp
24 Ballia Ballia NPP
25 Unnao Unnao NPP
26 Fatehpur Fatehpur NPP
27 Bijnor Bijnor NPP
28 Kannauj Kannauj NPP
29 Unnao Gangaghat NPP S.No. State District T own T ype
30 Bijnor Najibabad NPP
31 Jyotiba Phule Nagar Gajraula NP
32 Bijnor Nagina NPP
33 Bijnor Chandpur NPP
34 Bijnor Dhampur NPP
35 Bulandshahar Jahangirabad NPP
36 Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi NPP
37 Bulandshahr Anupshahar NPP
38 Mirzapur Chunar NPP
39 Ghazipur Saidpur NP
40 Ghaziabad Garhmukhteshwar NPP
41 V aranasi Ramnagar NPP
42 Bulandshahar Narora NP
43 Kanshiram Nagar Soron NPP
44 Meerut Hastinapur NP
45 Kanpur Nagar Bithoor NP
46 Budaun Babrala NP
47 Bhojpur Arrah M Corp.
48 Bhagalpur Bhagalpur M Corp.
49 Buxar Buxar NP
50 Saran Chapra NP
51 V aishali Hajipur NP
52 Munger Munger M Corp.
53 Patna Patna M Corp. + OG
54 Patna Danapur (Dinapur Nizamat) NP + CB
55 Begusarai Begusarai M Corp
56 Katihar Katihar M. Corp + OG
57 Munger Jamalpur NP
58 Nalanda Bihar Sharif M. Corp
59 Patna Mokameh NP
60 Patna Fatuah NP
61 Patna Barh NP S.No. State District T own T ype
62 Begusarai Barauni NP
63 Bhagalpur Sultanganj NP
64 Buxar Dumraon NP
65 Kaimur (Bhabua) Bhabua NP
66 Lakhisarai Lakhisarai NP
67 Patna Phulwari Sharif NP
68 Lakhisarai Barahiya NP
69 Bhagalpur Kahelgaon (Colgong) NP + CT
70 Patna Bakhtiyarpur NP
71 Bhagalpur Naugachhia NP
72 Saran Sonepur NP
73 Sahebganj Sahebganj NP
74 Sahebganj Rajmahal NP
75 Kolkata Kolkata M Corp.
76 Maldah English Bazaar M
77 Murshidabad Bahrampur M
78 Nadia Santipur M
79 Purba Medinipur Haldia M
80 Uttar Dinajpur Raiganj M
81 Nadia Krishnanagar M
82 Nadia Nabadwip M
83 North 24 Parganas Barrackpore M
84 Hugli Uttarpara Kotrung M
85 Hugli Rishra M
86 Hugli Baidyabati M
87 Hugli Champdani M
88 Hugli Bhadreshwar M
89 North 24 Parganas Kamarhati M
90 North 24 Parganas Baranagar M
91 North 24 Parganas Naihati M
92 North 24 Parganas Kanchrapara M + OG
93 Hugli Serampore M S.No. State District T own T ype
94 Hugli Hugli-Chinsurah M + OG
95 South 24 Parganas Maheshtala M
96 North 24 Parganas Panihati M
97 Haora Bally M
98 Haora Ulluberia M + OG
99 North 24 Parganas Khardah M
100 Haora Howrah M Corp
101 Hugli Bansberia M
102 Hugli Chandannagar M Corp
103 North 24 Parganas T itagarh M
104 North 24 Parganas Halishahar M
105 Nadia Kalyani M
106 North 24 Parganas Bhatpara M + OG
107 Murshidabad Dhulian M
108 Murshidabad Jangipur M
109 Nadia Ranaghat M
110 Murshidabad Jiaganj-Azimganj M
111 Barddhaman Katwa M
112 Nadia Chakdah M
113 Hugli Konnagar M
114 South 24 Parganas BudgeBudge M
115 Nadia Gayespur M
116 North 24 Parganas Garulia M
117 Murshidabad Murshidabad M
118 South 24 Parganas Diamond Harbour M
Abbrevations Used:
CB - Cantonment Board/Cantonment,
M – Municipality ,
NPP- Nagar Palika Parishad,
M. Corp - Municipal Corporation/Corporation,
NP - Nagar Panchayat,
CT - Census Town,
OG - Out Growth,
ITS- Industrial Township
Cremation in Kashi, ashes in the Ganga
The impact, as in 2017
Rashi Lal, Ganga continues to carry burden of faith, September 28, 2017: The Times of India
CHANGE IN DISCOURSE? Experts Say A Major Threat To The River Is Ritualism; Centre and State Need To Promote Rational Practices
In Uttar Pradesh, they don't say `Ganga'. For them, it's `Gangaji,' a source of their suste nance and salvation. It's with this belief that scores throng the ghats in Varanasi to perform rituals and immerse ashes in the river.
Arjun Maurya, a resident of neighbouring Jaunpur, has just cremated his father at Manikarnika Ghat. He says, “Cremation in Kashi and immersing ashes in the Ganga have been a matter of faith for generations.It is believed that the body is made of `panch tatva' (five elements). How will Ganga's water, which is one of the five, get polluted if these elements mix?“ At Dashashwamedh Ghat, Vimlesh Kumar Mehra, who has come all the way from Jharkhand to immerse the ashes of his father, says, “Ganga descended on earth to provide salvation to people... Last rites do not pollute the Ganga, sewage and industrial effluents do.“
This the challenge that faith poses to efforts aimed at rejuvenating the river. Experts say you can stop a polluting industry with a court order, but how do you stop a man who has lost his mother from acting on his belief that immersing her ashes in the Ganga will get her moksha?
This burden of faith has been borne by the Ganga for centuries. Ages ago, the rationale was that the ashes-a collection of calcium, phosphates and other minerals from the human body--made the water mineralrich. And that was a boon for farmlands.
“Today , the ritual is misunderstood, and we see half-burnt bodies thrown into the river.Even our scriptures prohibit immersion of bodies in rivers,“ says Lucknow-based river scientist Venkatesh Dutta. Nearly 33,000 bodies are cremated by the riverbanks in Varanasi alone every year. This requires 16,000 tonnes of wood and generates 800 tonnes of ashes.
Former geology professor at Lucknow University IB Singh, who has worked extensively on the Ganga, has a stark insight.“If you live on faith, the river will die. Faith was okay when population was low. Now, it's not a religious problem but a social one. If we talk about scriptures, even defecation in the Ganga is prohibited. But with so many living on the banks of rivers and jostling for space, where will one go?“ Today , Varanasi's population has grown to 36 lakh, while it's 59 lakh in Allahabad-that's part of the matrix which the NDA government has to weave into its flagship initiatives including Namami Gange and the dedicated Ganga rejuvenation wing. It will, obviously, take more than a strong dose of rationality to turn the course.
However, social scientist and former JNU professor Purushottam Agarwal says that when it comes to faith, awareness cannot be imposed. “A sustained campaign not on sentiment but rationality needs to be launched with focus on environment,“ he says. “Unfortunately , anybody who talks about religion is seen as hurting sentiments.“
Agreeing with him, Parveen Kaswan, an Indian Forest Service officer who has campaigned for the issue, says one can't raise questions on faith.According to him, the best way to bring about change is to associate faith with cleaning or protecting the river. On happy occasions like birth or marriage, he says people should be persuaded to plant a tree next to the river or clean it.
One BJP government in an adjoining state has already taken the lead in propagating a more rational approach to the question. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, earlier this year, urged ritualists to desist from immersing ashes in the Narmada. And he said if ashes had to be immersed, make do with a pinch and scatter the rest in your fields.
Last year, the National Green Tribunal had said religious leaders, governments and civic agencies must help change mindsets and promote ecofriendly methods of cremation.The Ganga may well prove to be a litmus test for the Yogi Adityanath regime.
List of villages on the Ganga...
...in Bihar
Bihar
The following is a complete list of all important villages (i.e. village councils) in Bihar along the banks of River Ganga.
|
State |
District |
Block |
Gram panchayat (Village council) |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Bachhwara |
Bisanpur |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Bachhwara |
Chamatha-I |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Bachhwara |
Chamatha-II |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Bachhwara |
Chamatha-III |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Bachhwara |
Dadpur |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Bachhwara |
Rani-III |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Ballia |
Bhawanand Pur |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Ballia |
Parmanand Pur |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Barauni |
Amarpur |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Barauni |
Malhipur (South) |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Barauni |
Simaria-II |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Matihani |
Balahpur -I |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Matihani |
Khorampur |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Matihani |
Ramdiri -III |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Matihani |
Ramdiri-2 |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Matihani |
Shihma |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Sahebpur Kamal |
Raghunathpur Barari |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Sahebpur Kamal |
Samastipur |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Sahebpur Kamal |
Sandalpur |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Samho Akha Kurha |
Akbar Pur Barari |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Teghra |
Nipania |
|
Bihar |
Begusarai |
Teghra |
Ratgaon |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Bihpur |
Bihpur South |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Bihpur |
Lattipur South |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Colgong |
Antichak |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Colgong |
Bholsar |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Colgong |
Birbanna |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Colgong |
Ekdara |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Colgong |
Kisundas Pur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Colgong |
Mohanpur Goghatta |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Colgong |
Pakki Sarai |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Colgong |
Shyam Pur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Gopalpur |
Abhia Pachagachia |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Gopalpur |
Babu Tola Kamlakund |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Gopalpur |
Gopalpur Dimha Gopalpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Gopalpur |
Saidpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Gopalpur |
Tintanga Karari |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Ismailpur |
Ismailpur Paschimi Bhitha |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Ismailpur |
Ismailpur Purabi Bhitha |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Ismailpur |
Narayanpur Laxmipur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Ismailpur |
Parbatta |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Kharik |
Akidatpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Kharik |
Khairpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Kharik |
Raghopur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Narayanpur |
Baikatpur Dudhaila |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Narayanpur |
Jaypurchuhar East |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Narayanpur |
Shahzadpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Narayanpur |
Sihpur East |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Narayanpur |
Sihpur West |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Nathnagar |
Gosaidas Pur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Nathnagar |
Rattipur Bariya |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Nathnagar |
Shanker Pur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Babupur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Bakharpur East |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Bakhrpur West |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Ekchari Diyara |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Gobindpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Khavaspur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Manik Pur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Mohanpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Parsu Rampur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Pirpainti |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Pirpainti |
Rani Diara |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Rangrachowk |
Tintanga Diyara North |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sabour |
Barari |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sabour |
Farka |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sabour |
Khankita |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sabour |
Mamalkha |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sabour |
Rajandipur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sabour |
Shankarpur Diyara |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sultanganj |
Abzuganj |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sultanganj |
Akabar Nagar |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sultanganj |
E. Chicharaun |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sultanganj |
Gangania |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sultanganj |
Kamarganj |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sultanganj |
Kishanpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sultanganj |
Masdi |
|
Bihar |
Bhagalpur |
Sultanganj |
Tilakpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Ara |
Ijari |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Ara |
Sundarpur Barja |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Akauna |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Babura West |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Balua |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Barhara |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Khawas Pur |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Nargada |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Nathmal Pur |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Nekham Tola |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Semaria Pararia |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Sinha |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Barhara |
Sohra |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Shahpur |
Damodarpur |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Shahpur |
Gaura |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Shahpur |
Jhaua Belbahiya |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Shahpur |
Lachatola Bersingha |
|
Bihar |
Bhojpur |
Shahpur |
Lalu Ka Dera |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Brahmpur |
North Nainijor |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Brahmpur |
South Nainijor |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Buxar |
Ahirauli |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Buxar |
Jaso |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Buxar |
Kamarpur |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Buxar |
Khutahan |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Buxar |
Umarpur |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Chakki |
Jawahi Diar |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Chausa |
Banarpur |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Chausa |
Chausa |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Simri |
Balihar |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Simri |
Gangauli |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Simri |
Keshopur |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Simri |
Niyazipur |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Simri |
Rajapur |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Simri |
Rajpur Kalan |
|
Bihar |
Buxar |
Simri |
Rajpur Kalan Parsanpah |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Amdabad |
Bhawanipur Khatti |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Amdabad |
Choukiya Paharpur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Amdabad |
Durgapur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Amdabad |
Kishanpur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Amdabad |
North Karimullapur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Amdabad |
Pardiara |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Amdabad |
South Karimullapur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Baisa Govindpur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Bakia Sukhay |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Dakshini Bhandartal |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Gurumela |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Kant Nagar |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Mohana Chandpur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Purbi Bari Nagar |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Sisia |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Uttari Bhandartal |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Barari |
Vishanpur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Kursela |
East Muradpur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Kursela |
Jarlahi |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Kursela |
Shahpur Dharmi |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Kursela |
South Muradpur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Manihari |
Baghar |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Manihari |
Baghmara |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Manihari |
Dakshini Kantakosh |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Manihari |
Dhuriyahi |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Manihari |
Dilarpur |
|
Bihar |
Katihar |
Manihari |
Uttari Kantakosh |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Gogri |
Banni |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Gogri |
Borna |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Gogri |
Gogri |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Gogri |
Itahari |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Gogri |
Jhiktiya |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Gogri |
Rampur |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Gogri |
Samaspur |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Khagaria |
Rahimpur Dakshin |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Khagaria |
Rahimpur Madhya |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Khagaria |
Rahimpur Uttar |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Bharso |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Dariyapur Bhelwa |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Jarawarpur |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Kabela |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Kulharia |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Lagar |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Madhowpur |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Saurh North |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Saurh South |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Siadatpur Aguani |
|
Bihar |
Khagaria |
Parbatta |
Temtha Karari |
|
Bihar |
Lakhisarai |
Barahiya |
Jaitpur |
|
Bihar |
Lakhisarai |
Barahiya |
Khutaha East |
|
Bihar |
Lakhisarai |
Barahiya |
Khutaha West |
|
Bihar |
Lakhisarai |
Pipariya |
Olipur |
|
Bihar |
Lakhisarai |
Pipariya |
Pipariya |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Bariyarpur |
Bariyarpur (North) |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Bariyarpur |
Bariyarpur(South) |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Bariyarpur |
Binda Diyara (Jhoua Bahiyar) |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Bariyarpur |
Binda Diyara(Harinmar) |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Bariyarpur |
Binda Diyara(Kalyan Tola) |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Bariyarpur |
Karhariya (East) |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Bariyarpur |
Karhariya (West) |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Bariyarpur |
Nirpur |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Bariyarpur |
Pariya |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Dharhara |
Bahachoki |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Dharhara |
Hemjapur |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Dharhara |
Shivkund |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Jamalpur |
Etahri |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Jamalpur |
Indrukh(West) |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Jamalpur |
Parham |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Jamalpur |
Rampur Kalan |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Jamalpur |
Singhiya |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Munger Sadar |
Kutlupur Diyara |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Munger Sadar |
Mahuli |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Munger Sadar |
Mai |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Munger Sadar |
Mirzapur Bardah |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Munger Sadar |
Nauagarhi (North) |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Munger Sadar |
Shankar Pur |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Munger Sadar |
Tarapur Diyara |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Munger Sadar |
Tikaram Pur |
|
Bihar |
Munger |
Munger Sadar |
Zaffar Nagar |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Athamalgola |
Ramnagar Diyara |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Athamalgola |
Sabnima |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Bakhtiarpur |
Chiraiya Rupas |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Bakhtiarpur |
Hardaspur Diara |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Bakhtiarpur |
Kala Diara |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Bakhtiarpur |
Rupas Mahaji |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Bakhtiarpur |
Satbhaiya Ram Nagar |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Barh |
Nadawan |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Dinapur |
Ganghara |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Dinapur |
Hetanpur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Dinapur |
Kasim Chak |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Dinapur |
Purani Panapur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Fatuha |
Jethuli |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Fatuha |
Mauji Pur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Khusrupur |
Baikatpur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Khusrupur |
Hardas Bigha |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Khusrupur |
Mosim Pur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Maner |
Biyapur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Maner |
Darwesh Pur North |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Maner |
Khas Pur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Maner |
Kita Chauhattar West |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Maner |
Magar Pal |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Maner |
Rampur Diyara Tauffir |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Maner |
Sadikpur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Maner |
Sherpur East |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Maner |
Sherpur West |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Aunta |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Barahpur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Dariyapur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Hathidah Buzurg |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Kasaha Diyara |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Maranchi North |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Mekra |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
More East |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
More West |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Nauranga Jalalpur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Rampur Dumra |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Mokama |
Shiv Nagar |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Pandarak |
Dhibar |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Pandarak |
Pandarak East |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Patna Sadar |
Digha East |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Patna Sadar |
Digha West |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Patna Sadar |
East Mainpura |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Patna Sadar |
Nakta Diyara |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Patna Sadar |
North Mainpura |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Patna Sadar |
Sabalpur |
|
Bihar |
Patna |
Patna Sadar |
West Manpura |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohanpur |
Baghra |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohanpur |
Bishanpur Ber |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohanpur |
Dharni Patti East |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohanpur |
Dharni Patti West |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohanpur |
Dumri South |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohanpur |
Madhupur Sarai |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohanpur |
Rajpur |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohiuddinagar |
Harail |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohiuddinagar |
Raspur Patasia East |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Mohiuddinagar |
Raspur Patasia West |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Patori |
Harpur Saidabad |
|
Bihar |
Samastipur |
Patori |
Hetanpur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Chhapra |
Barhara Mahaji |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Chhapra |
Bhairopur Nizamat |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Chhapra |
Dumari |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Chhapra |
Khalpura Bala |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Chhapra |
Kotawa Patti Rampur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Chhapra |
Maharajganj |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Chhapra |
Musepur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Chhapra |
Raipur Bingawan |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Chhapra |
Sherpur Gheghata |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Dighwara |
Akilpur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Dighwara |
Barua |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Dighwara |
Jhauwa |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Dighwara |
Kuriya |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Dighwara |
Manupur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Dighwara |
Rampur Ami |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Dighwara |
Trilok Chak |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Dighwara |
Dighwara |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Gangajal |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Gopal Pur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Hasilpur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Kalyan Pur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Kasamar |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Kharika |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Shaidpur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Sikarpur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Nayagaon |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Permanand Pur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Rasulpur |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Sabalpur Middle |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Sabalpur Purbi |
|
Bihar |
Saran |
Sonepur |
Sahapur Diara |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Bidupur |
Amer |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Bidupur |
Bajitpur Saidat |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Bidupur |
Chechar |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Bidupur |
Jurawanpur |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Bidupur |
Kutubpur |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Bidupur |
Majlispur |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Bidupur |
Nawanagar |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Desri |
Azampur |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Desri |
Jahangirpur Sham |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Desri |
Rasulpur Habib |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Hajipur |
Kernpura |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Mahnar |
Alipur Hatta |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Mahnar |
Hasanpur North |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Mahnar |
Hasanpur South |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Raghopur |
Bahrampur |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Raghopur |
Chaksingar |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Raghopur |
Jafrabad Tok |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Raghopur |
Jahangirpur |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Raghopur |
Jurawanpur Karari |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Raghopur |
Raghopur East |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Raghopur |
Rustampur |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Sahdei Buzurg |
Murauatpur |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Sahdei Buzurg |
Naya Gaon West |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Sahdei Buzurg |
Nayagaon East |
|
Bihar |
Vaishali |
Sahdei Buzurg |
Sultanpur |
See also
Ganga (Ganges), river
