Ganges River

10 CE - 2016 CE

The Ganges river basin runs from the central Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, and covers parts of Nepal, India, China and Bangladesh. The Ganges flows through northeastern India to the Bangladesh border, east-southeast 212 Km to its confluence with Brahmaputra, and continues as the Padma River for another 100 Km to its confluence with the Meghna River at Chandpur. The basin occupies 30% of the land area of India and is heavily populated, increasing in population density downstream to Bangladesh, the most densely populated country in the world. Approximately 1 in 12 people in the world (8%) live in its catchment area.

The Ganges river basin contains high biodiversity. There are over 140 fish species, 90 amphibian species, and 5 areas supporting birds found nowhere else in the world. The basin is home to 5 species of freshwater cetaceans [marine mammals] including the endangered Ganges River Dolphin, and to Glyphis gangeticus, a rare freshwater shark. The unique Sundarbans delta mangroves—found where the Brahmaputra River and Meghna River converge in the Bengal basin—support over 289 terrestrial, 219 aquatic, 315 bird, 176 fish and 31 crustacean species. There are also 35 reptile and 42 mammal species, including the world's last population of mangrove-inhabiting Panthera tigris.

BIRDS: 24 species are threatened
FISH: 3 species are endangered
MAMMALS: 4 species are extinct and 1 is endangered
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS: 13 reptile species are endangered
INVASIVE SPECIES: 6 invasive and non-native species

Most Pressing Issues

Water Extraction

Modern methods of water diversion have put excessive strain on the river in order to supply water for the 450 million people who live in the basin.

Climate Change

The Gangotri glacier, which provides up to 70% of the water of the Ganges during the dry summer months, is shrinking at a rate of 40 yards a year, nearly twice as fast as two decades ago.

Overpopulation

The Ganga basin is one of the most populous regions on Earth and as a result, there is strong demand and competition for natural resources

Pollution

Annually 260 million liters of industrial wastewater, largely untreated, is discharged into the river and more than 6 million tonnes of chemical fertilizers and 9,000 tonnes of pesticides are used within the basin

Dams

The flow of the Ganges is obstructed by dams constructed for power and irrigation. Dams interrupt ecosystems and disturb seasonal water flows.

How You Can Help

National Ganga River Rights Movement

The National Ganga River Rights Movement is a coalition of concerned citizens and organizations taking a stand on behalf of the Ganga River and its tributaries.

Ganga Action Parivar

Ganga Action Parivar is a global family of professionals, engineers, scientists, activists, spiritual leaders, environ- mental specialists and sevaks (volunteers) dedicated to the preservation of the River Ganga and her tributaries.

Sankat Mochan Foundation

The vision of Sankat Mochan Foundation is to restore the Ganges by alleviating its fast deteriorating environmental conditions and maintain the cultural traditions of Varanasi with current environmental needs.

Ganga Mahasabha

Started in 1905 to protest against British colonial policy towards the Hindu sacred river, Ganga Mahasabha works to ensure the water quality of the river for religious rituals.