Ganga shrinking away from the ghats

KANPUR: In what could be seen as the result of exploitation of the Ganga, the river has drifted away from the Ghats by changing its usual course. Apparently, the river which until two years back used to flow through Bhaironghat -- where most of the bodies are cremated -- has moved more than a kilometre away from the area.
In the last 10 days itself, the level of Ganga water has depleted to such an extent that the river water at Bhaironghat has dried up completely leading to formation of sand beds.
According to Jal Sansthan officials, the change in the river course started last year when the river diverted its route towards Unnao district. "Until two years back, the river in its normal course used to flow through Bhaironghat. The depth of the river at that time would have been upto 600 ft (approximately). However, last year the level of the water went down to almost half its capacity and the flow couldn't touch the banks of the Bhaironghat," said N M Choudhary, executive engineer at Jal Sansthan. Last year onwards, the river started drifting away from the ghat as it changed its course towards Unnao district, added he.
"It is for this reason that a channel of water was cut near Bhaironghat pumping station to make 200 mld of water available for the withdrawal. Till last year, the level of the river water at the pumping station was up to 358 ft, which further dropped this year. The present depth of water has been recorded at 357 ft, 3 inches," said Chowdhary adding that the water from the Narohna Dam has not been released, which has reduced the water level here.
The experts have, however, expressed grave concern over the changed river course. Claiming exploitation of the river to be the main reason behind the drifting away of the river from the banks, Prof U K Choudhary, coordinator Ganga Research Centre, Banaras Hindu University, said, "The over-withdrawal of water from one source tends to reduce the velocity of water proportionately. More so, owing to the sudden withdrawal of water, instantaneous settlement of the solid particles would take place, along with the flow of river. When the sedimentation has taken place, the sand beds would tend to grow."
Meandering process is another major reason behind the shifting of river course, said Prof Choudhary and explained: "If you are reducing the river velocity more sedimentation would take place causing more constant growth of sand beds. This would erode the banks and result in lateral shifting of river course." He also warned that the meandering process is a severe problem for the river as it results in change in the route of the river and so suggested for putting a stop on the instantaneous withdrawal of water.