Ganges Research Articles

Tracing the legal journey of petitions in the Uttarakhand High Court that became springboards for rights of rivers and nature in India

ABSTRACT On March 20, 2017, the High Court of Uttarakhand in India declared the Ganga and Yamuna rivers as living entities, making it the country’s first order to give legal rights to rivers. In another order passed 10 days later, the same court granted legal personhood to nature in Uttarakhand. The article traces the legal journey of two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) in the Uttarakhand High Court that became the springboards through which the Ganga and Yamuna throughout their respective courses in India, and nature within Uttarakhand, were granted legal personhood. Reasons that may have led to these orders are ascertained. Connections between the PILs and the two high court orders, or their lack thereof, are analysed. Whether human rights and nature’s rights are adequately explained in the orders, and whether the basic conditions for implementing them were fulfilled before the orders were passed, is discussed. The article also examines whether Uttarakhand-centric issues of the environment, infrastructure development, climate change, and disasters are mentioned in the analysed court rulings. Whether the March 2017 orders draw from the past and address the future of growing environmental concerns in the State is discussed.

Climatic teleconnection of the future trend of meteorological, GRACE-DSI, and vegetation-conditioned-based drought analysis in the Ganga Basin

ABSTRACT This study assesses drought in the Ganga River Basin using standard precipitation index (SPI), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Drought Severity Index (GRACE-DSI), and vegetation condition index (VCI) via geographic information system (GIS) and non-parametric tests. Future SPI trends show increasing drought severity from 1986 to 2020. GRACE-DSI analysis (2002–2020) indicates a potential rise in drought conditions. VCI computations reveal vegetation health dynamics. Findings suggest an impending severe drought in the Ganga Basin, necessitating urgent water resource management. Drought causes are linked to precipitation changes and resource over-exploitation in changing climate conditions. The study emphasizes implementing measures like water conservation, sustainable land use, and groundwater recharge strategies to mitigate drought impacts.

Dynamics of sediment phosphorus in the middle and lower stretch of River Ganga, India: insight into concentration, fractionation, and environmental risk assessment of phosphorus.

Despite continuous efforts, eutrophication is still occurring in freshwater and phosphorus (P) is the most important nutrients that drive the eutrophication in rivers and streams. However, little information is availableabout the distribution of P fractions in river sediment. Here, the sequential extraction approach was used to evaluate the sediment P fractionation and its content in the anthropogenically damaged river Ganga, India. Different sedimentary P fractionsviz. exchangeable (Ex-P), aluminum bound (Al-P), iron bound (Fe-P), calcium bound (Ca-P), and organically bound phosphorus (Org-P), were quantified. Significantly higher level of total P was recorded inpre-monsoonseason (438.5 ± 95.8mg/kg), than other [winter (345.7 ± 110.6mg/kg),post-monsoon(319.2 ± 136.3mg/kg), andmonsoon(288.6 ± 77.3mg/kg)] seasons. Different P fractionssuch as Ex-P, Al-P, Fe-P, Ca-P and Org-P varied from 2.88-12.8mg/kg, 7.64-98.8mg/kg, 32.2-179.2mg/kg, 51.97-286.1mg/kg and 9.3-143.7mg/kg, respectively, which correspondingly represented 0.5-10.54%, 3.41-20.18%, 17.27-37.82%, 37.35-60.2%, 4.15-25.88% of the Total P with a rank order of P-fractions was Ca-P > Fe-P > Org-P > Al-P > Ex-P. Bio-available P contributes a considerable portion (37.9-46.0%) of total P which may increase the eutrophication to overlying water. Results demonstrate that inorganic P species control the P bio-availability in both time and space. However, an estimated phosphorus pollution index based on sediment total P content showed no ecological risk of phosphorus to Ganga River sediment.

Do dietary exposures to multi-class endocrine disrupting chemicals translate into health risks for Gangetic dolphins? An assessment and way forward

Dietary exposure risks of 39 multi-class Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) to the threatened Gangetic dolphins (Platanista gangetica) were investigated in a conservation-priority segment of the Ganga River. Elevated EDCs bioaccumulation was observed across prey fish species, with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) significantly contributing to the EDC burden. The concentrations of persistent organochlorines in prey revealed a shift from dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to non-dioxin-like PCBs. The prevalence of regulated p,p' DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and γ-HCH (Lindane) residues suggests regional non-compliance with regulatory standards. The concentration of some EDCs is dependent on the habitat, foraging behavior, trophic level and fish growth. The potential drivers of EDCs contamination in catchment includes agriculture, vehicular emissions, poor solid waste management, textile industry, and high tourist influx. Risk quotients (RQs) based on toxicity reference value were generally below 1, while the RQ derived from the reference dose highlighted a high risk to Gangetic dolphins from DEHP, DDT, DnBP, arsenic, PCBs, mercury, and cadmium, emphasizing the need for their prioritization within monitoring programs. The study also proposes a monitoring framework to provide guidance on monitoring and assessment of chemical contamination in Gangetic dolphin and habitats.

The Role of Collective Action and Identity in the Preservation of Irrigation Access in Dacope, Bangladesh

Agriculture is one of the most culturally and economically important livelihood activities of the Ganges River Delta. In recent years, coastal communities have experienced longer dry seasons and salinity intrusion, which is exacerbated by registration errors in land tenure that have led to increasing encroachment by external interests in the Dacope sub-district of Bangladesh. These challenges threaten to undermine the sustainability of smallholder access to canals that are collectively managed as common-pool resources (CPR). This paper explores how identity and collective action may empower farmers to secure irrigation access in the face of external pressures. Drawing primarily on qualitative data collected through focus group discussions with farmers in Dacope, our findings reveal that identity serves as a powerful force driving collective action and the sustainability of the agricultural community. A shared occupational identity fosters a sense of belonging and collective responsibility among farmers to maintain water flow through construction, annual dredging, and temporary dry-season protections. However, despite a strong commitment to maintaining their irrigation system, challenges remain in farmers’ ability to combat the powerful interests of wealthier members of the community that threaten to undermine the viability of the irrigation commons. Thus, formal support through policy and legislative avenues is also necessary to safeguard common property rights against the threat of privatization and illegal occupation of canals. These findings further underscore the need for more research on how collective identity may strengthen collective action, livelihoods, and sustainability in the absence of strong institutional arrangements that uphold community rights and access to common-pool resources.

Influence of Xe+ and Ga+ milling species on the cathodoluminescence of wurtzite and zincblende GaN

III-nitride materials, such as GaN and its alloys, are essential for modern microelectronics and optoelectronics due to their unique properties. Focused ion beam (FIB) techniques play a crucial role in their prototyping and characterization at the micro- and nanoscale. However, conventional FIB milling with Ga ions presents challenges, including surface amorphization and point defect introduction, prompting the exploration of alternative ion sources. Xenon-based inductively coupled plasma or plasma FIB has emerged as a promising alternative, offering reduced damage and better sample property preservation. Despite extensive research on FIB-induced damage in GaN, systematic comparisons between Ga and Xe ion milling on the luminescence characteristics of GaN remain limited. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating and comparing the extent of FIB-induced damage caused by Ga and Xe ions in wurtzite and zincblende GaN through cathodoluminescence measurements. Our findings indicate that Xe ion milling yields higher integrated intensities compared to Ga ion milling, attributed to shallower implantation depths and reduced lattice disorder. We also observe a decrease in integrated intensity with increasing ion beam acceleration voltage for both wurtzite and zincblende GaN layers. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing FIB-based sample preparation techniques for III-nitride materials, with implications for enhancing device performance and reliability.

Toxic Metal Element Concentration in 31 Food Fishes from River Ganga: Risk Assessment on Human Consumption.

Consumption of toxic metal contaminated fish is a significant risk to human health. The Ganga river is one of the vital river systems in India, and it nurtures a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. In the present study, screening of potential toxic metal elements (Cd, Cr, Mn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, and As) was undertaken in 31 food fishes, especially the small indigenous fishes (SIFs) from the lower stretch of river Ganga by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentration of toxic metal elements varied among different fish species. Among the toxic metal elements studied, Cr, Zn, and As were found to be dominant in Eleotris fusca; Cd, Ni, and Pb were highest in Securicula gora; Cu was highest in Cabdio morar; and Mn was highest in Coilia dussumieri. The average pollution load index values (APLI) for all the fishes analyzed were less than one except for Eleotris fusca, which indicated no serious toxic metal element pollution load. The estimated daily intake values (EDI) for the toxic metal elements were found to be within the permissible maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI). Among the fishes studied, only a few species showed hazard index (HI) greater than one, indicating non-carcinogenic health risks. Similarly, the target carcinogenic values (TCR) for most of the toxic metal elements were below the permissible limit (10-4) in the fishes that assures minimal cancer risk. This study provides a comprehensive data on the composition of potential toxic metal elements of 31 food fishes from the lower stretch of the river Ganga, the first of its kind, and suggests the necessity of periodic monitoring of these in the aquatic ecosystem.

Hydrological modelling using SWAT for the assessment of streamflow dynamics in the Ganga River basin.

Growing concerns over water availability arise from the problems of population growth, rapid industrialization, and human interferences, necessitating accurate streamflow estimation at the river basin scale. It is extremely challenging to access stream flow data of a transboundary river at a spatio-temporal scale due to data unavailability caused by water conflicts for assessing the water availability.Primarily, this estimation is done using rainfall-runoff models. The present study addresses this challenge by applying the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) for hydrological modelling, utilizing high-resolution geospatial inputs. Hydrological modelling using remote sensing and GIS (Geographic Information System) through this model is initiated to assess the water availability in the Ganga River basin at different locations. The outputs are calibrated and validated using the observed station data from Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC). To check the performance of the model, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), percent bias (PBIAS), coefficient of determination (R2), and RSR efficacy measures are initiated in ten stations using the observed and simulated stream flow data. The R2 values of eight stations range from 0.82 to 0.93, reflecting the efficacy of the model in rainfall-runoff modelling. Moreover, the results obtained from this hydrological modelling can serve as valuable resources for water resource planners and geographers for future reference.

Land use and land cover patterns as a reflection of subsurface architecture groundwater quality in a large urban center (Varanasi) in the Ganges river basin, India

Varanasi is an exponentially developing city in the Himalayan-sourced Ganges river basin. To understand the sustainable groundwater-sourced drinking water in Varanasi, it is essential to study the land use-land cover that reflects the surface geomorphology vis-a-vis sub-surface geology, and influence groundwater conditions. We incorporate lithological and groundwater data obtained from an extensive network of boreholes in and around the city at 110 sites, reaching a maximum depth of 100 m below ground level (bgl). The unconsolidated subsurface are primarily composed of sand, silt, clay, and gravel where, silty clay layer. Groundwater quality and stresses were determined through multi-dimensional hydrogeological approaches. The data were analyzed through multivariate statistics (Principal Component Analyses to identify the governing factor influencing the broad hydrogeochemistry. PC1 for urban areas has higher loading values for Fe, Cl− compared to Semi-urban areas highlighting contamination by municipal wastewater. PC2 for urban areas shows higher loading values for Mg2+ and HCO3− compared to semi-urban areas. Due to heavy urbanization in Varanasi, the aquifer suffers substantial groundwater abstraction during particular times of the day compared to the agricultural lands. An increase of about 9% in built-up areas within a span of 10 years (2012–2022) poses a threat to the aquifer system of our study area, jeopardizing access to sustainable drinking water. With the expansion of urbanization and unregulated groundwater extraction, the vulnerability of the aquifer system will probably increase in the foreseeable future. Implementation of sustainable water management policies, engaging all economic sectors of the population in Varanasi, can expedite the process and safeguard the aquifer from attaining its emerging vulnerability. Thus, comprehending evolving groundwater risks through non-invasive methods like that discussed in the present study, holds significant promise for effectively targeting safe groundwater availability in future.

Amino Acid Composition of Thirty Food Fishes of the Ganga Riverine Environment for Addressing Amino Acid Requirement through Fish Supplementation.

Amino acids are significant biomolecules that govern the major metabolic processes and act as precursors for macromolecules such as proteins that are crucial to life. Fish is an integral component of human nutrition and a dietary source of high-quality animal proteins and amino acids. In this context, the crude protein and amino acid compositions of food fish from different landing stations of the Ganga river have been determined. The Kjeldahl method was utilized to determine the crude protein content and the amino acids were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); data on 30 food fish were assessed. The study showed that among the fish studied, Eleotris fusca, Macrobrachium malcomsonii, and Mystus cavasius were rich in most of the amino acids important for human nutrition, such as glycine, glutamic acid, cysteine, threonine, phenylalanine, methionine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine, histidine, and valine. Further, it was observed that the daily consumption of these fish (approximately 50 g) can fulfil the daily requirement of these individual amino acids for an adult human with a body weight of 60 kg. Therefore, the amino acid composition analyzed in the present study could be utilized for recommendation by clinicians according to the requirement for specific amino acids, and fish can be prescribed as a natural supplement against the amino acid requirement.

A new method to detect illegal oil use and estimate mortality rates of endangered Ganges river dolphins based on Clupisoma fish catches

Gillnet entanglement is a major threat to endangered small cetacean species around the world, including Ganges river dolphins (Platanista gangetica). While conservation efforts have helped to reduce the prevalence of targeted hunts, bycatch still occurs. A serious concern is the illegal opportunistic exploitation of bycaught river dolphins to evade detection and potential penalties, where oil is extracted from the blubber and illegally traded as bait for catfish (Clupisoma garua). While this threat is well known, enforcement is weak and evidence difficult to collect as the molecular analyses required to confirm the use of dolphin oil are expensive and time‐intensive. Simpler detection methods are therefore needed to help improve enforcement. We developed a new visual test and decision‐making process to help identify the use of dolphin oil while fishing for catfish, which draws on a common understanding among local fishers that oil‐baited fish appear paler/whiter than net‐caught fish. We conducted colour analyses and visual‐perception tests, combining these results with other variables, such as catch weight, sale price and season, to identify a set of rules which can be used to determine the use of dolphin oil in a sampled catch. Based on our predicted oil‐use prevalence, we estimated that five to seven dolphins (~4% of the population in our study area) may be exploited each year to support catches landed at one of two sites in our study area. This system therefore provides a simple and efficient tool to identify instances of illegal exploitation of Ganges river dolphins.

Saving India’s freshwater biodiversity

ABSTRACT Freshwater biodiversity faces a critical situation globally. Current efforts to protect and conserve India’s freshwater biodiversity have been insufficient in light of emerging challenges. To address this, we propose 14 science-based and policy-backed recommendations aimed at achieving long-term protection of Indian freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity conservation goals. Managers of India’s nodal agencies have expressed support for implementing these recommendations. The Wildlife Institute of India has recently launched a pioneering master’s degree programme in freshwater ecology and instituted scholarships for local citizens known as ‘Guardians of the Ganga’, who are actively engaged in conserving biodiversity along the Ganga River under the auspices of the ‘Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation’ project sponsored by the National Mission for Clean Ganga. These initiatives align closely with our proposed recommendations. Implementing these timely recommendations by policymakers is crucial to safeguarding India’s freshwater biodiversity.

Quantitative Assessment of Channel Migration in the Ghaghara River, Ganga Plain, India

ABSTRACT The Ghaghara River is one of the longest tributary of the Ganga River. The Ghaghara, a snow fed river is well known for channel shifting/migration. It was analyzed for lateral migration using multi-temporal satellite images and SOI toposheets. It shows 4.2 to 6.1 km lateral migration in last 45 years (1975–2020) between Bahraich and Deoria in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The lateral migration on the left side of the river (NNE) is 6144, 4838, 6475 and 4755 m, whereas on the right side (SSW) is 7021, 4555, 4718 and 4257 m during 1975–1990, 1975–2000, 1975–2010 and 1975–2020, respectively. The rate of migration (m/year) on left side (NNE) is 410, 194, 185 and 106, whereas on the right side (SSW) is 468, 182, 135 and 95 during 1975–1990, 1975–2000, 1975–2010 and 1975–2020, respectively. The major factors such as heavy precipitation, reactivation of chute channels, deposition of sediments, breaching of embankments and sand mining etc. might be responsible for the lateral migration of the river. Human settlements should be constructed away from the migration-prone area and regular monitoring and management system needs to be in place to mitigate the impacts of such natural events.

Ganga River Bacteriophages: Navigating The Biotechnological Landscape For Future Applications

Ganga River Bacteriophages: Navigating The Biotechnological Landscape For Future Applications

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Bacteria Isolated from Wastewater Treatment Plants and Urban Stream of Ganges River in Northern India

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Bacteria Isolated from Wastewater Treatment Plants and Urban Stream of Ganges River in Northern India

Market instruments and institutions for reducing pollution in the Ganga River Basin

ABSTRACT In this article, we take an integrated approach to water quality management of the Ganga River, considering the hydrological and ecological integrity of the basin and the economic viability of wastewater treatment options. This basically meant giving due consideration to the quantum and pattern of surface water flows in different river stretches, the vulnerability of groundwater to pollution, the dynamics of surface water–groundwater interactions, and prioritizing regions facing scarcity of water for competitive uses and environmental water stress as well as pollution, while devising strategies for water quality management. The use of market-based instruments and institutions for creating incentives and disincentives to affect behavioral changes was explored, following the identification of regions that are high-risk vis-à-vis groundwater pollution and river pollution.

NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON FISH CATLA CATLA FOUND IN GANGA RIVER WITH HYDROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES

Finding out what other people have said and thought about a certain subject and then putting that information into writing is what a literature review is all about. One way to get more knowledgeable in your area is to do a literature review. Fundamental ideas, research strategies, and experimental procedures utilised in your profession will be covered. Discover real-world challenges. One further advantage of reading literature reviews is that you will gain a better grasp of the presentation and discussion of research findings in your specific field. Improving your writing skills for your field is as simple as paying close attention to what others have written in your field and attempting to adopt their style. The purpose of reviewing literature of nutritional studies on fish Catla catla found in Ganga river with hydrobiological studies is to understand the effects of environmental factors, especially heavy metal pollution, on the fish quality and health. Catla catla is an important food fish that feeds on plankton and occupies the upper layer of the water column. It is widely distributed in India and other South Asian countries. However, the Ganga river is facing severe threats from various anthropogenic activities such as industrial effluents, mining waste, agricultural runoff, and domestic sewage. These sources introduce heavy metals such as nickel and thallium into the water, of which can build up in fish tissues, leading to histopathological alterations, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, and oxidative stress. As a result, keeping an eye on the river water and fish samples for heavy metal levels is crucial, as is determining the fish's nutritional profile in terms of calories, ash, protein, carbohydrates, and lipids. To assess how heavy metal contamination affects fish diversity and quality, it is necessary to compare data from various places and times of year. Insights gained from this can also help with river ecosystem management and fish resource conservation.Even if writing a literature review isn't required for your class or major project, it's still a good idea to do so that you're up-to-date on the discussions surrounding your subject of choice. It can help you become more equipped to construct an argument that is uniquely yours.

Reconnaissance of spatio-temporal variability in ecological stability with local adaptability based on multi-temporal LANDSAT archive in ganga river basin

Assessment of ecological environment is an indispensable part of the eco-environment protection and restoration. This study utilizes a remote sensing-based ecological index (RSEI) to better understand the environmental scenario in the Ganga basin. RSEI has been computed using five parameters: Wetness, Dryness, Greenness, Heat, and a newly incorporated parameter Albedo representative of land degradation. Median-based RSEI maps have been constructed using LANDSAT archives in Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, covering three decades (1990–2021). The Ganga basin has been divided into five agro-climatic zones. For each zone and time frame (1990–99, 2000–09, 2010–19, and 2020–21), a median-based RSEI map has been generated. The analysis reveals that RSEI becomes poorer for sub-basin 1 (SB1), sub-basin 2 (SB2), and sub-basin 5 (SB5) in the 2010–19 period compared to the 1990–99 and 2000–09 periods. On the other hand, RSEI for sub-basin 3 (SB3) improved in the 2010–19 period compared to the previously mentioned periods. Sub-basin 4 (SB4) remained the least fluctuated region compared to the other sub-basins. The Global Moran's I value is highest for SB3 for the 1990–99 and 2000–09 periods, while for the 2010–19 and 2020–21 periods, SB2 has the highest Global Moran's I. This study incorporates big data analysis and can be indispensable in exploring the interactions between ecosystem services and anthropogenic activities in river basin systems.

Remote sensing of snow cover dynamics and climate implications in the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river basins

Remote sensing of snow cover dynamics and climate implications in the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river basins

Cascading hazards of a major Bengal basin earthquake and abrupt avulsion of the Ganges River

Earthquakes present severe hazards for people and economies and can be primary drivers of landscape change yet their impact to river-channel networks remains poorly known. Here we show evidence for an abrupt earthquake-triggered avulsion of the Ganges River at ~2.5 ka leading to relocation of the mainstem channel belt in the Bengal delta. This is recorded in freshly discovered sedimentary archives of an immense relict channel and a paleo-earthquake of sufficient magnitude to cause major liquefaction and generate large, decimeter-scale sand dikes >180 km from the nearest seismogenic source region. Precise luminescence ages of channel sand, channel fill, and breached and partially liquefied floodplain deposits support coeval timing of the avulsion and earthquake. Evidence for reorganization of the river-channel network in the world’s largest delta broadens the risk posed by seismic events in the region and their recognition as geomorphic agents in this and other tectonically active lowlands. The recurrence of comparable earthquake-triggered ground liquefaction and a channel avulsion would be catastrophic for any of the heavily populated, large river basins and deltas along the Himalayan arc (e.g., Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Ayeyarwady). The compounding effects of climate change and human impacts heighten and extend the vulnerability of many lowlands worldwide to such cascading hazards.