Pollution of Ganga River Due to Urbanization of Varanasi Adverse Conditions Faced by the Slum Population

One of the most important and holiest rivers in the world, the Ganga has now become highly polluted because of the pollution from many cities present along its banks. Nearly all kinds of wastes coming out of Varanasi, viz. sewage inflow, industrial waste, animal carcasses, unclaimed human dead bodies, and nearly all other kind of biodegradable as well as non-biodegradable wastes is being dumped in the Ganga river. Faecal Coliform Counts of more than 4 million/100 ml have been recorded at downstream end of the city near the Varuna Confluence. Many studies have shown that there is a significant relativity between water-borne diseases and the use of the river water for potable uses like bathing, laundry, washing of utensils etc. The present study aims to bring the increasingly worsening situation into limelight and to present few possible solutions to bring the River Ganga to its former glory.