Assessment of water quality of river Ganga along ghats in Varanasi city, U. P., India

Abstract

Assessment of water quality was done in holy River Ganga district of Varanasi, (U.P.) India in 2009. Water samples were collected from fives different sites namely (S 1)- Samne Ghat, (S 2)- Assi Ghat, (S 3)- Harishchandra Ghat, (S 4)- Dasaswamedh Ghat, (S 5)- Dr. Rajendra Prashad Ghat. The Ganga, one of the world's major rivers, has been venerated as the holiest and is bound with countless beliefs and faiths especially in India and adjacent countries. Its water has traditionally been regarded as pure and holy in nature gift to human. Recent experiences however do not warrant such complacency. The water resources are strained to a non-sustainable level due to rapid population growth, urban development, industrialization; livestock and power production on the Ganga Ghats at Varanasi city. The severe pollution stress and causes to which its water is subjected to the contents and quality of water and possible remedial measures. According to the result obtained by analyzing various Physico-chemical parameters of Ganga river in Varanasi City, maximum BOD recoded in (S 2)- Assi Ghat and minimum in (S 1)- Samne ghat whereas maximum DO was observed in Samne Ghat and minimum in (S 2)- Assi Ghat during Jan to March 2009 period respectively. On the basis of our experimental results it can be concluded that (S 2)- Assi Ghat exhibited higher pollution index than other ghats due to higher values of Turbidity, pH, BOD, Hardness, Alkalinity and Nitrate disposal occurring at (S 2)- Assi Ghat as well as disposal of industrial sewage in the (S 2)- Assi Ghat. Regular monitoring of Ganga river water quality is necessary to have a check on surface water quality for the sake of human life & to maintain a balanced aesthetical value of religious. We have to restore the environmental quality of Ganga which is amended by policy makers of Indian constitution. 2011 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.