Introductory
background
The history of India is incomplete without the river Ganga, the cultural
reverence of India is incomplete without Ganga. It would not be wrong to
say that Ganga is the most alive river in the world, the biological and
chemical properties make it unique from the other rivers.
“Tadevai Tatprakaren Bhavatieti Shrutermatam Dwirupam Chapi
Gangavajagneyam Sa Jalrupini~
~Mahatmya Samyutam Nrunam Sevatam Bhakti Muktida Maryada
Margvidhina Tatha Brahamapi Budhyatam”
In versus 5 to 6 of Siddhanta Muktavali, philosopher and reformer
Vallabhacharya (1478-1530) and Vyasa describe three levels of perception
about the river Ganga: first, as a stream of material water, second, as
a stream of material water with some spiritual capability, and third, as
a stream of water that is the manifestation of divine ’Ganga Maa.’
Since, the times of East India Company, with the upper Ganga canal
constructed in 1855, our developmental approach have primarily been to
treat Ganga as a stream of material water. Growing population and cities
have led to discharge of pollution from industries and municipalities
into the river.
The Himalayan Young Fold Mountains, the Gangetic Plain, and the Central
Indian highlands make up the majority of the geographical area of the
Ganga basin, which is divided into three broad topographic divisions of
the Indian subcontinent. Upper Ganga plains, Middle Ganga plains, and
Lower Ganga plains are the three main divisions of the Gangetic plains.
Figure 1 below shares the flow diagram of the Ganga Basin.