The Ganges River Basin: Flood Control and Pollution Management

Introduction

Denudation is the wearing away of the Earth’s surface through weathering, erosion, transportation,
and deposition. The Ganges River Basin, stretching across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, covers about
1.08 million square kilometres and sustains the lives of more than 400 million people. It is a system
of enormous environmental, cultural, and economic importance, yet it faces constant challenges
from flooding, riverbank erosion, and pollution. These pressures arise from both natural forces and
human activity, making the basin one of the most dynamic and fragile environments in the world.
Over the years, a wide range of measures has been taken to control floods and reduce pollution, but
their success has been mixed, with some positive outcomes and many continuing challenges.

Narrative (Main Argument)

Every year, the Ganges carries more than 500 million tonnes of sediment, most of it during the
monsoon months when torrential rains and melting Himalayan snow cause the river to swell. In Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh, these conditions can flood millions of hectares of farmland, forcing thousands of
families to leave their homes. In an effort to protect communities and farmland, over 3,700
kilometres of embankments have been built in Bihar alone. These barriers are designed to hold back
floodwaters and safeguard crops, homes, and roads. Further upstream, large structures like the Tehri
Dam in Uttarakhand store excess water during the monsoon, release it gradually in drier months, and
generate 1,000 MW of electricity. Flood forecasting systems managed by the Central Water
Commission now give up to 72 hours’ warning before major floods, allowing time for evacuation and
preparation. In Bangladesh, the proposed Ganges Barrage Project at Pangsha aims to better control
seasonal flows, expand irrigation, and support navigation.

Pollution control efforts have also been significant. The Namami Gange Programme, launched in
2014 with a budget of ₹20,000 crore (USD 3 billion), is the largest river clean-up initiative in India’s
history. It focuses on building sewage treatment plants, intercepting drains that carry waste into the
river, and enforcing stricter rules for industries. By 2024, more than 160 treatment plants with a
combined capacity of 5,000 million litres per day had been completed or were under construction.
River cleaning drives in cities like Varanasi have removed tonnes of floating waste, while community
awareness campaigns have reached over 1,000 riverbank villages, encouraging people to protect the
water they depend on. Afforestation projects in the upper catchment areas are helping to stabilise
soils, reduce runoff, and slow the flow of sediment into the river. Together, these measures have
reduced flood impacts in some protected zones, improved water quality in stretches like Haridwar–
Rishikesh, and supported agriculture and energy production through more reliable water
management.

Counter-Narrative

Despite these achievements, the Ganges Basin still faces severe problems. Embankments often
provide a false sense of security. When they fail, as over 40% in Bihar have done during major floods,
the results can be worse than if the water had been allowed to spread naturally across the
floodplain. Restricting the river’s natural path also pushes water and sediment downstream,
increasing flood risk in other areas. Large dams such as Tehri, while useful for power and irrigation,
trap sediment that would normally replenish soils further downstream. This has reduced agricultural
productivity and altered the river’s shape and ecosystems. The Ganges Barrage Project, though
promising for irrigation, has raised concerns about cutting off sediment supply to the Sundarbans, a
vital coastal ecosystem.
Pollution control also remains far from adequate. Many sewage treatment plants operate well below
capacity or break down because of poor maintenance, irregular power supply, or lack of trained staff.
Even with the Namami Gange Programme, an estimated 12 billion litres of untreated sewage still
flow into the river every day. Industrial waste, particularly from the leather tanneries in Kanpur,
continues to enter the river despite legal bans, often because regulations are weakly enforced. Data
from the Central Pollution Control Board shows that stretches in Kanpur and Patna fail to meet basic
bathing water standards.

Beyond technical issues, there are social and political barriers. Large projects often face delays, cost
overruns, and allegations of corruption. Communities displaced by dam or embankment construction
have sometimes been given inadequate compensation, creating resistance and mistrust. Heavy
reliance on hard engineering, rather than restoring natural floodplains and wetlands, has reduced
the river’s ability to absorb and adapt to changes over time. Climate change, bringing more
unpredictable rainfall and extreme weather, is likely to make these shortcomings even more serious
in the future.

Conclusion

Efforts to manage flooding and pollution in the Ganges River Basin have brought some real
improvements, such as better flood warnings, cleaner upstream stretches, and greater awareness
among local communities. However, the persistence of devastating floods, widespread pollution, and
ecological damage shows that the current approach is not enough. Large infrastructure projects
alone cannot solve problems that are deeply linked to both natural processes and human behaviour.
A more effective strategy would combine well-maintained engineering works with ecological
restoration, decentralised waste treatment, stronger enforcement of environmental laws, and active
involvement of local communities. Only by working with the river’s natural systems, rather than
trying to control them entirely, can the Ganges continue to support the hundreds of millions of
people who depend on it.