NEW DELHI: The water of the Ganga river has been found unfit for bathing at several places in Bihar due to the presence of a high value of “bacteriological population”, according to Bihar Economic Survey 2024-25. This comes after the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that water quality at multiple locations in Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh failed to meet primary bathing standards due to excessive faecal coliform levels.
“The water quality of Ganga indicates the presence of a higher value of bacteriological population (total coliform and faecal coliform). This is mainly due to the discharge of sewage/domestic waste water from cities located on the banks of Ganga and her tributaries,” Bihar Economic Survey report said.
“The other parameters… pH (acidity or basicity), dissolved oxygen and bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) have been observed within the prescribed limit in the river and her tributaries in Bihar, indicating that water is fit for aquatic life, wildlife propagation, fisheries and irrigation,” it added.
Reacting to the report, DK Shukla, chairman of the BSPCB, told PTI, “Faecal coliform bacteria are found in excreta that contaminates water through untreated sewage. The higher the level, the higher is the presence of disease-causing pathogens in water. According to the CPCB standards, the permissible limit of faecal coliform is 2,500 MPN/100 ml.”
Notable towns situated along the river’s banks include Buxar, Chapra (Saran), Dighwara, Sonepur, Maner, Danapur, Patna, Fatuha, Bakhtiyarpur, Barh, Mokama, Begusarai, Khagaria, Lakhisarai, Manihari, Munger, Jamalpur, Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, and Kahalgaon.