Increasing pollution in Ganga cause of concern: PCB chairman

Kolkata, Aug 6 (UNI) Phenomenal rise of bacteria has led to the increase in pollution levels in the Ganga, according to West Bengal Pollution Control Board chairman Sudip Banerjee.

Mr Banerjee said indiscriminate dumping of municipal wastes in the water has led to the rise in bacteria.

Bacteria related problems in the Ganga have assumed alarming proportions, mainly due to the waste dumped by the municipalities, he said.

''A case has been filed in this regard in the Calcutta High Court Green Bench and the Court would soon come out with a report. We are waiting for the report,''Mr Bannerjee told UNI.

''We have warned all the civic bodies except Kolkata Municipal Corporation of penal action unless corrective steps were taken. We have also asked them to stop dumping along the river,'' he added.

Alternative dumping grounds have been suggested by the Board to the municipalities.

A recent report of the National River Conservation Plan and the Ganga Action Plan said only 18 per cent of the approved schemes had been implemented in the state till November last year and 55 per cent of the allocated funds spent.

The conservation plan report also said that the percentage of dissolved oxygen and bio-chemical oxygen demand in the Ganga water had increased at Palta and Uluberia.

UNI JYN TJP MSJ PM1033