CAG Audit Raises Alarm Over Rising Pollution in the Ganga in Uttarakhand; Devotees’ Hopes for a Pure and Sacred River Remain Unfulfilled

A recent performance review conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has highlighted serious environmental concerns regarding the condition of the river Ganga in Uttarakhand.

The audit revealed a sharp surge in coliform bacteria levels between Devprayag and Haridwar, shortcomings in the functioning of sewage treatment facilities, and instances where untreated waste was reportedly being discharged into the river.

The findings emerged from an assessment of the Namami Gange Programme carried out in the state between 2018 and 2023.

The report was presented in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly during the Budget session held in Gairsain earlier this week.

The audit pointed to several irregularities and implementation gaps in the initiative, which was designed to reduce contamination in the river and improve its ecological health.

According to the report, a number of sewage treatment plants operating along the river corridor were not functioning according to environmental standards laid down by the National Green Tribunal.

In several cases, these plants were unable to adequately process the wastewater entering them.

The initiative to restore the Ganga has its roots in earlier efforts as well. The Government of India first launched the Ganga Action Plan in 1985 with the objective of intercepting and treating wastewater generated in urban centres along the river.

The programme initially covered towns in Uttar Pradesh—of which present-day Uttarakhand was once a part—along with locations in Bihar and West Bengal.

During the audit exercise, officials evaluated 23 out of 42 projects executed during the 2018–2023 period.

In addition to reviewing these projects, auditors also examined the operation and maintenance of earlier infrastructure established under the river-cleaning initiative.

Records of the State Mission for Clean Ganga were scrutinised along with documents from implementing departments such as Uttarakhand Peyjal Nigam, the Irrigation Department and the Forest Department.

Maintenance responsibilities handled by Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan and other agencies were also reviewed.

The audit concluded that the performance of sewage treatment facilities remained unsatisfactory.

A majority of the plants examined did not comply with environmental norms prescribed by the National Green Tribunal and central authorities.

Water quality analysis showed that the river upstream of Devprayag remained in Category A, which indicates water suitable for drinking after basic disinfection. However, the quality deteriorated further downstream.

In Rishikesh, the river generally remained in Category B between 2019 and 2023—indicating water fit primarily for bathing—except during the COVID-19 lockdown years of 2020 and 2021, when reduced human activity temporarily improved the condition of the water.

In Haridwar, the water consistently remained in Category B throughout the review period.

A comparison of decade-long data on bacterial contamination at Har Ki Pauri and Devprayag revealed a worrying trend.

The level of total coliform bacteria recorded in October 2023 had multiplied nearly 32 times between these two points along a stretch of roughly 93 kilometres.

Environmental experts note that such bacteria levels typically rise when untreated sewage flows directly into river systems.

The report also observed that the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board had not secured accreditation for its laboratory from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.

This laboratory is responsible for monitoring the river’s water quality as well as the effluents discharged from sewage treatment plants.

Another concern highlighted in the audit related to the monitoring system used to track wastewater discharge.

The online effluent monitoring mechanism was described as inadequate because the system allows manual data entry on the Ganga Tarang Portal, raising doubts about the reliability of recorded parameters. Moreover, the portal is not accessible to the public, limiting transparency in environmental monitoring.

The audit further pointed to procedural irregularities in procurement and tendering processes.

In one instance, the implementing authority reportedly relaxed the permissible faecal coliform standard from zero most probable number (MPN) per 100 millilitres of water to 100 MPN per 100 millilitres.

The review also noted that district-level river basin management strategies had not been prepared by District Ganga Committees in any of the districts through which the river and its tributaries flow—namely Uttarkashi, Tehri Garhwal, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pauri Garhwal, Dehradun and Haridwar.

This omission was in spite of provisions contained in the 2016 order establishing the National Mission for Clean Ganga.

While the state government informed auditors that a comprehensive district Ganga management plan had been prepared for Udham Singh Nagar, the auditors considered the explanation inadequate because the district does not contain any towns directly located on the Ganga riverfront.

Financial allocations were also found to be inadequate in certain areas. The state government reportedly did not earmark funds specifically to strengthen sewerage infrastructure in towns situated along the riverbanks.

Although ₹55.08 crore was spent under a state sector sanitation scheme between 2018 and 2023, none of that expenditure was directed toward riverfront towns along the Ganga.

Another striking finding was that 21 sewage treatment plants constructed in seven towns were not connected to any residential pipelines, effectively rendering them non-functional.

During joint inspections of 37 treatment facilities built under the Namami Gange initiative, auditors discovered that 12 plants were releasing untreated wastewater into the river or its tributaries due to inadequate treatment capacity and ineffective diversion of drainage channels.

The overall progress of the programme also appeared significantly below expectations.

According to the report, physical achievements under various components—including natural landscape restoration, agricultural landscape improvement, urban interventions and conservation initiatives—reached only 34 per cent, 6 per cent, and 14 per cent respectively of the originally planned targets.

Beyond administrative lapses, the issue carries deep cultural and spiritual significance.

For millions of Hindus, the Ganga is not merely a river but a sacred lifeline believed to purify body and soul. Devotees travel from across the country to bathe in its waters with the belief that the river is holy and spiritually cleansing.

For decades, revered seers and spiritual leaders have repeatedly called for an uninterrupted flow of pure and unpolluted Ganga water. Yet the aspiration of seeing the river restored to its pristine condition remains largely unrealised.

The river begins its journey from the icy Himalayan glacier at Gomukh and eventually empties into the Bay of Bengal at Gangasagar. Along this long course, it flows past countless towns, cities and villages.

Unfortunately, wastewater from many of these urban settlements eventually finds its way into the river. Highly toxic waste from dozens of tanneries located in Kanpur continues to poison the river around the clock.

Over time, the continuous inflow of sewage and waste has placed immense strain on the river system. What was once revered as a pristine and life-giving stream is now struggling to cope with the pressures of modern urbanisation.

Environmentalists and devotees alike argue that the time has come for governments to demonstrate greater resolve and commitment to restore the river’s sanctity.

Ensuring the absolute purity and uninterrupted flow of the Ganga, they say, is not merely an environmental duty but also a civilisational responsibility.

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