Young people from India and Australia have come together to tackle river pollution and global warming as part of the 5th International Swatcha Ganga Chhatra Sangam being organized on Tulsi Ghat, Varanasi on 17th and 18th January.
Telling details of the program, Dr. VB Mishra, President of the Sankat Mochan Foundation said: “River Ganga is one of the greatest rivers of the world, providing spiritual and physical sustenance to hundreds of millions of people. The health of the river is threatened by numerous open drains that are pouring raw sewage directly into religious bathing areas. Global warming also threatens the future and health of the river, as the major glaciers feeding into Ganga are melting. The solutions of both these problems lie in the hands of the people.”
Dr. Mishra further informed: “There are 30 drains discharging raw sewage into the religious bathing areas in Benaras and 69 drains discharging into Ganga and Yamuna at Allahabad. We estimate there are 2000 sewer outfalls discharging sewage and industrial pollution along the whole length of the river. This is 95% of the problem for Ganga and it must be stopped. Appropriate technology and natural systems that don’t depend on electricity are available. We know how this sewage problem can be solved. We need to act now.”
Mrs. Lennox, Co-Founder of Global River Environmental Education Network – Australia (Oz Green), said: It is disturbing to see that after 15 years of visiting Benares, the situation of sewage pollution of the religious bathing areas continues. I am concerned about the health of the people and the risk of water borne diseases.”
5th International Youth River Congress is aimed at sharing the experiences of young people from Varanasi schools and young Australian leaders. During the congress, young people will learn from the Swatcha Ganga Research Laboratory (SGRL) about the state of water quality in Ganga and its impact on the common people. The congress is taking place between the major religious bathing days of the Ardh Kumbh Mela and Makar Sankranti and also amid recent water quality testing conducted by the SGRL which reveals that river water quality in the religious bathing areas is thousands of times above the safe limit for bathing.
Telling details of the program, Dr. VB Mishra, President of the Sankat Mochan Foundation said: “River Ganga is one of the greatest rivers of the world, providing spiritual and physical sustenance to hundreds of millions of people. The health of the river is threatened by numerous open drains that are pouring raw sewage directly into religious bathing areas. Global warming also threatens the future and health of the river, as the major glaciers feeding into Ganga are melting. The solutions of both these problems lie in the hands of the people.”
Dr. Mishra further informed: “There are 30 drains discharging raw sewage into the religious bathing areas in Benaras and 69 drains discharging into Ganga and Yamuna at Allahabad. We estimate there are 2000 sewer outfalls discharging sewage and industrial pollution along the whole length of the river. This is 95% of the problem for Ganga and it must be stopped. Appropriate technology and natural systems that don’t depend on electricity are available. We know how this sewage problem can be solved. We need to act now.”
Mrs. Lennox, Co-Founder of Global River Environmental Education Network – Australia (Oz Green), said: It is disturbing to see that after 15 years of visiting Benares, the situation of sewage pollution of the religious bathing areas continues. I am concerned about the health of the people and the risk of water borne diseases.”
5th International Youth River Congress is aimed at sharing the experiences of young people from Varanasi schools and young Australian leaders. During the congress, young people will learn from the Swatcha Ganga Research Laboratory (SGRL) about the state of water quality in Ganga and its impact on the common people. The congress is taking place between the major religious bathing days of the Ardh Kumbh Mela and Makar Sankranti and also amid recent water quality testing conducted by the SGRL which reveals that river water quality in the religious bathing areas is thousands of times above the safe limit for bathing.
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