since March this year, since the country went into lockdown, which also forced the closure of the industries along its banks, the water quality has been improving dramatically

In May 2019, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had said that the water from the holy river Ganga was absolutely unfit for “direct drinking”.

In October 2019 the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) had stated that the river water unfit even for bathing.

According to UPPCB the level of Coliform and Fecal Coliform bacteria in the river water was so high that against the maximum permissible limit of 500 MPN (most probable number)/100 ML of water for both bacteria, 40,000 MPN of Coliform and 22,000 MPN of Fecal Coliform bacteria was measured in the Ganga, in Jana village of Kanpur.

But since March this year, since the country went into lockdown, which also forced the closure of the industries along its banks, the water quality has been improving dramatically.