River Flows Clean
Lockdown has done wonders from Ganga to Cauvery. Don’t squander the gains afterwards
The way in which Covid-19 has quarantined most social and economic activity, is being called the world’s largest scale experiment ever. When the quarantine protocols are lifted, data collected during this experiment should help build better societies and economies. One notable area in which new baselines of what is possible have emerged is the environment. Specifically, consider the lockdown report cards of India’s rivers. From Ganga to Cauvery parts of our major rivers have reported dramatic improvements in water quality, becoming ‘fit for drinking’ for the first time in decades.
The 34% reduction in faecal coliform reported from a Haridwar ghat in April may be on account of the paralysis of tourism, suggesting how appallingly human excreta are normally allowed to pollute the holy Ganga.
(Source: Editorial in TOI) more
The way in which Covid-19 has quarantined most social and economic activity, is being called the world’s largest scale experiment ever. When the quarantine protocols are lifted, data collected during this experiment should help build better societies and economies. One notable area in which new baselines of what is possible have emerged is the environment. Specifically, consider the lockdown report cards of India’s rivers. From Ganga to Cauvery parts of our major rivers have reported dramatic improvements in water quality, becoming ‘fit for drinking’ for the first time in decades.
The 34% reduction in faecal coliform reported from a Haridwar ghat in April may be on account of the paralysis of tourism, suggesting how appallingly human excreta are normally allowed to pollute the holy Ganga.
(Source: Editorial in TOI) more
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Don't be so enthusiastic about positive effects of corona. We human beings will nullify them within shortest possible time and continue to destroy environment. more
Dec 24
The improvement in water quality, air pollution etc is totally temporary because of all kind of activities became completely standstill since proclamation of the lock down. Once the lock down is over and the nation returns back to normal, it will be a matter of days to everything become polluted again and presuming that our industrial activities may resume with extra efforts to make up the loss occurred due to the lock down within a short span of time, its aftermath could be more dangerous taking little time to repollute everything more quickly. Therefore, the concerned government departments should pay necessary attention towards this issue well in tim more
Apr 24
I agree with Mr Mohit Pande. This is the right time that the Polluting Industries are told without mincing words to find alternate method of cleaning the waste rather mixing with the River Flow. Also tourist places and religious place like Hardwar and Prayag Raj , the Government should be asked to construct Toilets in plenty and charge the Visiting Public with ruthless actions to teach them Cleanliness and to maintain clean potable water. Mere wasting money with slogans Vlean Ganga etc is no use. This is the right time to get into action. more
Apr 22
very difficult to achieve this. post lockdown, polluting industries, tourism sector will start lobbying to govt to open up and allow everything as was. and if the owner happens to be MP or MLA it is all the more easier to go back to square one. more
Apr 23
Sir, In our country we (public) follow 'Chalta Hai' (its alright) concept. This is what our Governments have taught us and also teaching us as a continuous education. If you notice garbage cleaning on the road was in full swing when the President of United States visited. The same thing happened when the Chinese Premier visited Chennai last year. Today the same place is back to its past glory!!!! That's the commitment Governments have and here people (including me) are also to be blamed for their disregard to maintain public places clean. Unfortunately lack of civic sense is more with the educated mass. Otherwise in this fight against Coronavirus, there is no need for a celebrity to appear on a television to teach us how to clean our hands. People should make a resolve to keep the country clean and healthy. more
Apr 22
