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Experts Warn: Ritual Milk Pouring Pollutes Rivers
30 Jun
Summary
- Milk poured into rivers lowers oxygen levels, harming aquatic life.
- NGT seeks replies from pollution boards on ritualistic milk pouring.
- Experts say milk acts as an organic pollutant, requiring regulation.
Pouring milk into rivers, often performed as a religious ritual, is being identified by environmental experts as a significant pollutant. This practice lowers dissolved oxygen levels, critically affecting aquatic ecosystems. A recent large-scale pouring of 11,000 liters of milk into the Narmada river during a religious gathering has amplified concerns.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has initiated a legal review, seeking responses from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the MP Pollution Control Board. The tribunal is investigating whether milk contributes to water pollution and if existing guidelines adequately cover such ritualistic activities.
Experts like IIT Kanpur professor Vinod Tare explain that milk's organic compounds decompose, consuming oxygen vital for aquatic life. While industrial waste is regulated, ritualistic offerings lack specific legal controls, creating a regulatory gap. This situation prompts a debate on regulating traditional practices to protect river health.
Environmental scientist Subhash Pandey concurs that even natural products like milk, when introduced in large quantities, act as organic pollutants. He noted that other organic materials, such as flowers, can also contribute to pollution if dumped in excess, further impacting the delicate ecological balance of river bodies.
