The Exploitation of Natural Resources is the Ganges River - Coursework Example

The main reasons for any chances of success an economy can have are mostly if it is gifted and blessed with all the natural resources. Natural resources may include rivers, oils, and mines. Not only has this but natural resources played an important role in the conception and increase of local businesses, formation of different type of jobs for the local traders, and the heavy investments by merchants, businesses and companies worldwide. Hence, to utilize natural resources in the most prolific manner will be beneficial for any nation’s economy and its environment as well. Studies have shown that “Urban sewage and industrial effluents to be the main factors responsible for deterioration of Ganga water quality” (Singh) It is a well known fact that natural resources are being exploited or abused in most parts of the world. And exploitation is carried out by humans themselves. One of the best examples of such exploitation of natural resources is the Ganges River in India. According to the CIA.gov, the water present in the Ganges River is considered as an essential resource to the India’s population, which is currently about 1.2 billion, is being massively polluted by them and misused as well. The reason due to which this pollution occurs is the overuse of the Ganges River. For what we see- is that River Ganges is heavily engaged in and used for carrying out religious customs and traditions. The Ganges River holds immense religious significance as well as the urbanization which is going around the surrounding of River Ganges. In my opinion, it is necessary that the River Ganges should be rescued from this pollution and its religious significance must remain sacred even if it means to stop and outmaneuver the religious practices in the River Ganges. Also, the economic development should be hampered in the area surrounding the river. According to Singh, he defines the River Ganges as the “trans-boundary” river of India and Bangladesh. It begins from a state of India named Uttarakhand and it clears and depletes into the Bay of Bengal. “It has total length 2,525 km river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India and go to Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh” (Rai) which makes it “the longest river of India and is the second greatest river in the world by water discharge” (Singh) It is believed that water is an essential but a scarce resource. In a country like India, clean water is a very scarce resource which is why the salvation and rescuing of water and River Ganges is crucial. The River Ganges names and ranks itself in the top 10 list of most polluted in the world. “The Ganges basin is the most heavily populated river basin in the world, with over 400 million people and a population density of about 1,000 inhabitants per square mile (390 /km2).” (Rai, 1) along with the heavy population of India itself, which is ranked second in the world. Therefore, it threatens the situation further as more citizens will lead to more industrialization and urbanization within that area or country, which will further lead to more sewage water and manufacturing waste being dumped in this sacred river. According to the recent reports, The River Ganges is mentioned among the top 5 most polluted rivers of the world. “According to the CPCB survey report, the total municipal sewage generated in the identified 25 towns in 1985 was of the order of 1340 million liters per day (mld))” (Rai, 3) Moreover, not only the Ganges River itself, but the interconnected and adjoined rivers are endangered as well. For instance, one of the tributaries of The Ganges River is River Varuna which is also a victim of pollution as large untreated sewage along with the agriculture and manufacture waste is received by it. One of the reasons of increase in the amount of chemical in the holy and sacred river is because of the washing of clothes by villagers and settlers. Therefore, industrialization and urbanization are the major causes of polluting the River Ganges as well as its tributaries. This pollution is also having some serious and adverse effects on the population of India. The dolphins of the Ganges River are also in danger because of this pollution. It has been reported that only about 4000 to 6000 dolphins are left in the Ganges River. This tells us that human are excessively polluting the environment and damaging and causing harm to the environment as well as the natural resources. Furthermore, the River Ganges Dolphins are also harmed and damaged because of the abundant washing of clothes which has resulted and turned the water really dirty. This has further lead the dolphins to lose their vision at such a range that many of these mammals do not have any lenses anymore. Additionally, their life is also in danger because they are hounded and Hindu population considers them as their prey. “These powerless creatures being attacked ruthlessly and being pushed to extinction by humans is another example of why the pollution problem of the Ganges River needs to be addressed.” (Abrams) According to Schelle, the establishment of huge dams is also a problem for these dolphins and it had an adverse affects in the number of dolphins. As the Ganges River is named after the goddess Ganga, it is considered as the “most” sacred and holy river in the country. Therefore, around 60,000 people approximately visit the Ganges River and bathe in the river daily. They believe that bathing in this holy river is the key to eradicate their sins. Abrams in his article tell that January and February are known as the most danger months for River Ganges as a bathing festival is arranged where there are about hundreds of thousands of crusaders and pilgrims. “Another of the main issues of the Ganges river pollution is the vast irrigation networks which have cropped up to feed India's ever expanding population” (All-about-india.com) The problems that I have discussed in my paper seem to be very disastrous and calamitous. Therefore, a solution to this argument is not easy. The debate revolving around The Ganges River is a controversial dispute, and there is no easy solution because of the essential feature of “religion” tangled with it. However, the Hindu anarchists and extremists contradict this as they believe that as Ganga, herself, is the “goddess” as she can always save, survive, and purify from anything herself. Therefore, no power or anything done by the humans or anyone else can harm or destroy the holiness of this sacred river, or her. (Amanda) A sad concept is that individuals do not want to accept the adverse impacts of industrial and municipal pollution of the River Ganges. The reason is that the Hindus have this concept that everything that comes in contact with the river becomes pure. This is a major obstacle set because of an orthodox mind set of the Hindu population. Such people need to be educated and informed before it is too late (Amanda). Moreover, the politicians and people who have authority are unwilling to take such a step in order to save the River Ganges as these people with authority fear the adverse reactions they might have to face if they try to do so, from the religion extremist and lose their support as well. Mostly, the politicians and people with authority are corrupt. They are more careful when it comes to keep their political position safe and sound instead of doing things they were brought in for. In 1986, however, a Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was established which main aim was to reduce and lower the level of chemicals, industrial, and human waste in the River Ganges. This Ganges Action Plan was initiated by the Indian Prime Minister of that time, Shri Rajeev Gandhi. This plan was failed inadequately. There has been negligible improvement before, since, and after the Ganges Action Plan was imposed. According to these producers, “Rapid industrialization is the only solution to the poverty in India and the only way to create employment for the world’s second fastest growing population” (CIA.gov). Therefore, the industrialists are also blamed for their augmentation and are considered as real contributors of pollution in this holy river. Certain industrialists and their companies believe that they cannot give nature more priority than industrialization as if they do it, then there will be many Indians will be unemployed. However, many studies have shown that the pollution has increased in the river than before. There are many reasons for the raise in pollution; few of them are as follows: 1) Lack of expertise and technology. 2) Huge corruption within the government officials and authority. 3) Lack of public support. 4) Project wanted to desire more success but the authority failed to spread alertness and awareness among the population. The sewage waste problem which resides within the Ganges River area can be solved. It can be solved by reconstructing and bettering the sanitation, drainage, and sewage system of the river area. Many authorities have claimed “instead of directing the sewage into the river, it should be used to process manure for agricultural purposes and in an effort to conserve water; sewage water should also be used for only non-drinking and non-cooking purposes” (Save Ganga Movement). Furthermore, only if the citizens and people are being educated about the significance and importance about this sacred essential natural resource, pollution can be further lowered down. Therefore, if such measures are conformed, then there is a chance to balance the ecology of the “holiest river of the country” which is the Ganges River. India and the population of India consider Ganga as a goddess, and if Ganga is actually the goddess, the people of India should behave towards it with the utmost respect and in the best manner. This can happen only when the Hindu population decides to sacrifice their religious practices, customs, and traditions which pollute the water of the river. The reckless utilization of water must come to a halt as well. There are innumerable problems which are being caused from the pollution of the river. It has been said that the people who lives along the banks of River Ganges are more likely to have cancer than other in the country. That dangerous the Ganges River has become and it is endangering for the citizens as well. But they fail to accept this. “Water in the Ganges has been correlated to contracting dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, as well as severe diarrhea which continue to be one of the leading causes of death of children in India.” (Rai, 2) The least people can do is to run a campaign and educate those groups of people who do not accept the fact that due to the “religious” elements and practices in the river, it not only damages and harms their life, but the overall masses living in India. Works Cited All-about-india.com,. 'Ganges River Pollution'. N. p., 2014. Web. 10 May. 2014. Rai, Basant. "Pollution And Conservation Of Ganga River In Modern India."International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications 3.4 (2013): 1-4. Web. 10 May 2014. .. "Country Comparison :: Population." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 10 May 2014. Abrams, Paula. River Ganges. Africanwater.org. The African Water Page, 2003. Web. 10 May. 2014. < http://www.africanwater.org/ganges.htm#Pollution>. Wickramasekera, Amanda. “Ganga can always survive and purify herself simply because she is a Goddess - Representation of Spiritual practices in the Ganges River Pollution Problem”. https://sge.lclark.edu. May 8, 2014. Web. 5 Dec. 2013. < https://sge.lclark.edu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Wickramasekera_Amanda_Final-Thesis-Draft.pdf> "Save Ganga Movement." Save Ganga Movement. N.p., 2008. Web. 10 May 2014. Singh, Nand Lal, P.K. Mishra, Sughosh Madhav, Sujeet Kumar, and Neha Singh. "Impact of River Water on the Ground Water Quality in Varanasi." Indian J.Sci.Res 4.1 (2013): 179-82. Web. 10 May 2014. . District." Indian Journal of Scientific Research (2013): 179+. Academic OneFile. Web. 2 Schelle, Patricia. "River dolphin decline: can the dams industry help? River dolphin survival on a knife edge. Their decline has been the result of a wide range of pressure on their habitat. And, according to WWF, dam construction has played a part in this as well." International Water Power & Dam Construction Jan. 2013: 44+. General OneFile. Web. 2 Dec. 2013. Read More