Water and Lives at Risk

More than 600 million people living in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh may face a serious livelihood crisis soon, as Ganga, the holy river, is experiencing the worst-ever drying phase in the last 1,300 years. This has been claimed in a study jointly conducted by researchers from IIT Gandhinagar and the University of Arizona, after reconstructing the river’s streamflow over the past 13 centuries. Beyond a doubt, the study report is alarming enough, and it should be given proper priority to prevent one of the most fertile lands in the world from becoming dry. Otherwise, it will impact agriculture and water security, among other things, which have made it one of the most densely populated regions in the world. According to the researchers, human factors like pollution, excessive groundwater extraction, and reduced rainfall have all contributed generously to this dry spell and are hampering the ecosystem of the region, considered a lifeline to India’s prosperity, which can be addressed only by water management reforms.

Ganga is not only a holy river but also responsible for the fertility of the Ganga plain, which stretches from the plains of Punjab-Haryana to the Sundarbans delta region. This is the most fertile stretch of land in the country, producing multiple crops in a year and thus forming the agricultural backbone of the country. As usual, the majority of Indian people have lived in the region for their livelihood for centuries, as the river has always appeared generous to all. It is this fertile land that has attracted foreign invaders to India ages ago, and many of them even settled in this place, finding it one of the most suitable places for living. European invaders like the British, Dutch, Danes, and French all established their business settlements in the Gangetic plains. It is a pity that, despite the river giving us everything, we haven’t given it back anything, instead pushing it beyond sustainable limits for years.

As a matter of fact, we were well aware of the drying phase of Ganga even before the said study report became public. The depleted flow of this river is the bone of contention between the two South Asian neighbours, India and Bangladesh. Even deep inside India, the construction of various dams for producing hydel electricity and irrigation facilities has affected the natural water flow of the river badly. Reduced water levels in the river have affected the Kolkata Port heavily, which the British East India Company built for trading with European countries. As the only river port in the country, it is now counting its days. Many ancillary industries that had once made Bengal one of the richest and most advanced states of India have now completely closed, putting it in a huge financial crisis. Not only the eastern part of the country, but also the northern part is facing a serious crisis, especially those who depend on the river for their livelihood, like farmers, fishermen, and boatmen. To avert the crisis, a new plan should be drawn at the earliest to save Ganga from drying.