It has been contended that the pollutants that get released into the rivers of India have rendered the ground water in their vicinity absolutely unfit for all practical purposes. The bio-amplification (toxins that enter the food chain) that has ensued due to that has led to a situation where all the food products that thrive due to irrigation from river water have been reduced to a status of ‘unfit for human consumption’. This is worrisome.
It is contended that from Gangotri to Allahabad, approximately 5.4 million tonnes of effluent gets discharged into the ‘Holy Ganges’. Not only that, the drinking water that gets supplied from the rivers are known to cause about 70% of waterborne diseases across India.
The most dangerous aspect however relates to the ground water pollution that has been the direct outcome of the riverine pollution. Vegetables farmed on the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi are estimated to contain in them toxins of every kind. So, as the citizens of India’s Capital city gulp them by naming the cooked preparations with exotic terminologies, nutritionists contend the food products lead to almost all kind of diseases from renal failures to neurological disorders.
It is high time when something as hazardous as that is given due consideration. Detoxifying irrigation is essential before spending millions on ‘river action plans’.