India: Ganga River unfit for bathing in Bihar

The Ganga River is not fit for bathing in Bihar. Water quality tests conducted in 34 locations by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) have found that the river contains a higher value of bacteriological population (total coliform and faecal coliform) due to the constant discharge of sewage and domestic wastewater from various cities along its course and those of its tributaries. These cities include Buxar, Sonepur, Maner, Danapur, Patna, Barh, Mokama, Manihari, and Jamalpur. According to the BSPCB survey, other parameters like pH, dissolved oxygen, and bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) are within prescribed limits and indicate that the river in Bihar is fit for aquatic life, fisheries, and irrigation. D K Shukla, chairman of the BSPCB, said that the presence of a higher value of bacteriological population in the river is a matter of concern because it may correspond with the presence of disease-causing pathogens in the water. The permissible limit of faecal coliform is 2500 MPN/100 ml, but the level found in the Ganga at Bihar is between 3500 and 5400 MPN/100 ml, making its waters unfit for bathing. To reduce the risk to public health, the BSPCB has advised concerned authorities to ensure that local sewage treatment plants (STP) function properly. The board is also monitoring the effluent/sewage quality generated from industrial units as well as STP/sewerage drains. At present, over 2500 water/effluent/sewage samples have been collected from different locations for analysis.