A joint committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has found that the Ghaggar River water contained from two to three times the prescribed limit of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), making it unfit for outdoor bathing.

Water Quality Issues in Ghaggar River

BOD Levels

• Current Status: pH levels in the Ghaggar River meet bathing standards, but BOD levels fail to comply with bathing water standards.
• Implication: High BOD levels suggest the presence of excessive organic pollutants, such as untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, or industrial effluents.
  • This leads to a depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO), making the water unsuitable for aquatic life and recreational activities like bathing.

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Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

• Definition: TSS refers to the amount of solid particles (e.g., silt, organic matter, algae, and industrial waste) suspended in water.
• Current Status: TSS levels in the Ghaggar River exceed environmental discharge limits.
• Impact: High TSS blocks sunlight, reduces photosynthesis, and harms aquatic life.
• Sources: Sources of TSS include soil erosion, untreated industrial discharges, and urban runoff.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

• Definition: DO measures the amount of free oxygen available in river systems.
• Factors affecting DO in the Ghaggar River:
  • Surface turbulence: Limited due to slow flow or stagnation.
  • Photosynthetic activity: Reduced due to high TSS blocking sunlight.
  • O2 consumption: Increased by bacteria decomposing organic waste.
  • Decomposition of organic matter: High BOD indicates significant organic waste, further depleting DO.
• Impact of Low DO: Low DO levels make the river uninhabitable for fish and other aquatic life, leading to ecological imbalance.
  • Presence of organic and inorganic wastes decreases DO levels, leading to poor water quality and threatening aquatic life.

About Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

• Definition: BOD measures the amount of dissolved oxygen required by bacteria to decompose organic wastes in water. It is expressed in milligrams of oxygen per litre of water.
• Importance of BOD:
  • Indicates Water Pollution: High BOD suggests more organic pollutants, leading to poor water quality.
  • Measures Oxygen Depletion: Excessive oxygen consumption by bacteria reduces DO, harming aquatic life.
  • Wastewater Treatment: BOD is used to assess the efficiency of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and effluent treatment plants (ETPs).
• Causes of High BOD in Water Bodies
  • Discharge of untreated sewage (domestic wastewater).
  • Industrial effluents containing organic waste.
  • Agricultural runoff (pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste).
  • Decaying plant material and dead aquatic organisms.
  • Slum settlements dumping waste directly into water.
• Consequences of High BOD
  • Oxygen depletion in water, leading to fish and aquatic life mortality.
  • Bad odor and water discoloration.
  • Algal blooms due to excess nutrients.
  • Spread of waterborne diseases.

About Ghaggar River

• Nature: Intermittent river that flows only during the monsoon season.
• Course: Originates in the Shivalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh and flows through Haryana and Rajasthan before drying up in the Thar Desert.
• Irrigation: Feeds two irrigation canals extending into Rajasthan.
• Connection to Hakra River: The Hakra River in Pakistan is considered the continuation of the Ghaggar River in India. 
  • Together, they are called the Ghaggar-Hakra River.
• Main Tributaries: Kaushalya River, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri, and Chautang.
• Historical Significance: Many Indus Valley Civilization settlements have been excavated along its banks. Key archaeological sites:
  • Kalibangan: Located on the Ghaggar River in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan.
  • Rakhigarhi: Located in Hisar district, Haryana, in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain.
  • Banawali: Located on the dry bed of the Sarasvati River in Fatehabad district, Haryana.
• Cultural Significance: The Ghaggar River is believed to be the lost Sarasvati River mentioned in the Rigveda.

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