India’s rivers are facing a severe environmental crisis from pollution, urbanization, and climate change, endangering biodiversity and millions of lives
Mrinal Chatterjee
India, a land blessed with more than 400 rivers including the mighty rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, and Godavari, owes much of its cultural, spiritual, and agricultural identity to its waterways. Yet today, these lifelines are in crisis. Rampant pollution, unchecked industrialization, encroachment, and climate change are slowly but steadily killing India’s rivers—transforming once-pristine flows into toxic drains. This ecological emergency not only threatens biodiversity but also endangers the health, livelihoods, and water security of millions.
The Ganga, often called the Soul of India, is worshipped by millions, yet it remains one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Despite multiple government initiatives like the ‘Namami Gange’ project, untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and religious offerings continue to pour into the river. Similar stories unfold along the Yamuna, which runs black with waste as it passes through Delhi, and the Mithi River in Mumbai, choked by plastic and construction debris. In Odisha, Prachi and Daya are dying. Ichhamati (on which Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhay wrote a novel of epic proportion) in West Bengal is almost dead.
Urbanization plays a major role in the deterioration of rivers, like in the case of Daya which flows through Bhubaneswar. Cities have expanded onto riverbanks, cutting off natural floodplains and wetlands that once helped purify and manage the flow of water. Industries often discharge toxic chemicals directly into rivers, bypassing treatment norms. The lack of stringent enforcement and political will allows this practice to continue with impunity.
Climate change adds a further layer of distress. Glaciers that feed many Himalayan rivers are retreating, while erratic rainfall patterns lead to flooding during monsoons and drought during dry seasons. Rivers that were once perennial are becoming seasonal, affecting agriculture and drinking water supply.
The impact on biodiversity is severe. Freshwater ecosystems, among the most threatened in the world, are rapidly deteriorating. Fish populations are declining, aquatic plants are disappearing, and once-thriving riverbanks have turned barren. These changes affect not just nature, but also communities—especially those in rural and tribal areas—who depend on rivers for fishing, farming, and daily living.
Addressing this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach. First, sewage and industrial waste must be treated before being discharged. Strict penalties should be imposed on violators. Second, river rejuvenation must involve restoring natural water flows and protecting riverbanks from encroachment. Third, public awareness and community involvement are key. People must understand that preserving rivers is not a government responsibility alone—it’s a collective one.
Technological solutions, like eco-friendly waste treatment plants and real-time monitoring systems, can play a role. But more importantly, India must embrace a mindset shift: rivers are not resources to exploit, but sacred entities to protect.
Death of rivers is not just an environmental issue—it is a humanitarian one. If India’s rivers die, so does its future. The time to act is now, before these once-mighty symbols of life and civilization die.
Missing Jaspal Bhatti
If alive, he would have been 71 now, doing what he does best – lampooning people and system- with a deadpan expression on his face, and a hint of a grin on his face.
In an era saturated with slapstick and over-the-top humour, Jaspal Bhatti (5 March 1955-25 Oct. 2012) stood out as a beacon of sharp wit and social satire. His comedy was never just about the joke—it was a mirror to society.
Best known for his iconic TV shows Flop Show and Ulta Pulta, Bhatti tackled everyday Indian struggles—corruption, red tape, power outages, housing issues—with a rare blend of honesty and humor. His sketches were simple, the sets barebones, but the message always hit home. He turned middle-class frustrations into biting satire, giving voice to the common man in a way that felt both therapeutic and revolutionary.
Bhatti wasn’t just a comedian; he was a satirist in the truest sense, using laughter as a tool to question the status quo. Whether he was playing a hapless government employee or a baffled citizen entangled in bureaucracy, his performances carried an underlying sense of empathy and purpose. He didn’t punch down—he punched smart.
Even off-screen, Bhatti remained committed to truth-telling. He often staged mock political campaigns and protest performances that highlighted the absurdities of the system, all while keeping the mood light and tongue firmly in cheek.
His untimely death in 2012 left a void in Indian comedy that still feels unfilled. In a time when the country desperately needs honest humor and fearless commentary, Bhatti’s absence is deeply felt. He showed us that comedy could be clean, clever, and courageous.
Today, we don’t just miss his jokes—we miss his perspective. We miss you Jaspal Bhatti paaji, the everyman’s comedian who never stopped speaking truth to power, one laugh at a time.
Tailpiece: Hope
The fact that Jellyfish have survived for 650 million years despite not having brains gives hope to many people.
(Courtesy: Social Media)
(The author is Regional Director Indian Institute of Mass Communication, IIMC Dhenkanal. Views expressed are personal.)
