National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Water quality assessment is important for safeguarding community health, sustaining aquatic ecosystems, and supporting long-term water security. The Ganga River, the world's third-largest river by discharge and a source of livelihood, drinking water, and cultural significance for over five Indian states, faces continuous pressure from domestic sewage, industrial effluent, agricultural runoff, and large-scale religious bathing events. This review synthesizes published data (2009–2025) on the physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, total hardness, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, and major ions) and microbiological indicators (Most Probable Number, Standard Plate Count, faecal and total coliform, and emerging metagenomic data on antibiotic resistance genes) reported for the Ganga across multiple stretches, seasons, and mass-gathering events including the Kumbh and Kanwar Melas. Most parameters remain within permissible limits under routine conditions, but recurrent deviations in dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and coliform counts are consistently reported during mass-bathing events and at sites downstream of untreated sewage discharge. Seasonal patterns show elevated turbidity and microbial load during the monsoon and comparatively better water quality in the dry season. The review highlights the need for continuous, standardized monitoring, stronger enforcement of pollution-control measures, and sustained investment in sewage treatment infrastructure to support ongoing rejuvenation efforts such as Namami Gange.
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