Four main rivers in state unfit for bathing

Not one of Gujarats four main rivers are fit to bathe in,a continuous monitoring of river pollution by the central and state pollution control boards under the National River Conservation Plan recently made public in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has shown.

Not one of Gujarats four main rivers are fit to bathe in,a continuous monitoring of river pollution by the central and state pollution control boards under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) recently made public in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has shown.

The conclusion has been derived by taking the Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of these rivers,where a BOD content of 3 milligrams per litre (mg/l) or less is considered fit for bathing.

By this criteria,the Sabarmati,Mahi,Tapi and Narmada are generally unfit for bathing although certain pockets may have BOD readings that show it is safe.

The Tapi and Narmada may be the least safe,with BOD readings showing 20 -30 mg/l for Tapi and 10-20 mg/l for Narmada.

Almost every sample taken from these two rivers shows BOD levels exceed 6 mg/l,twice the safe limit.

In Gujarat,only Ahmedabad is included as a beneficiary town under the NCRP,meaning only the Sabarmati may come within the plans ambit of cutting down pollution. Other beneficiary towns under the plan lie in Madhya Pradesh.

The data with the Gujarat Pollution Control Board shows that between 2009-10 (the latest data available),the Sabarmati showed BOD readings touching 67 mg/l at Miroli near Dascroi.

Near the Vasna-Narol bridge,it was 51 mg/l.

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But the GPCBs reading in various places along the Mahi,Tapi and Narmada show much better results,with these three rivers showing 3 mg/l BOD or less in various places.

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Four main rivers in state unfit for bathing

Not one of Gujarats four main rivers are fit to bathe in,a continuous monitoring of river pollution by the central and state pollution control boards under the National River Conservation Plan recently made public in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has shown.

Four main rivers in state unfit for bathing

Not one of Gujarats four main rivers are fit to bathe in,a continuous monitoring of river pollution by the central and state pollution control boards under the National River Conservation Plan recently made public in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has shown.