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Gujarat River Choked by Toxic Sewage, Reports Show
21 Apr
Summary
- Fecal coliform levels nearly doubled, indicating severe sewage contamination.
- Total Dissolved Solids increased significantly, rendering water unusable.
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand shows alarming rise, harming aquatic life.
The Khari river in Mehsana, Gujarat, has transformed into a toxic waterway, according to Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) reports spanning from 2022 to 2025. Data obtained via an RTI application reveals a critical environmental crisis driven by untreated sewage and industrial effluents.
Fecal coliform bacteria, a key indicator of raw sewage, saw a dramatic increase at Nagalpur village, soaring from 920 MPN/100 ml in November 2022 to over 1,600 MPN/100 ml by July 2025. This indicates a chronic discharge of human waste. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) also surged from 1,176 mg/l to 1,716 mg/l, far exceeding safe limits for drinking water and rendering the water corrosive and saline.
Furthermore, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), crucial for aquatic life, rose sharply from 2.75 mg/l to 21 mg/l, indicating a severe oxygen depletion that threatens marine ecosystems. The GPCB reports also detected oil, grease, and phenolic compounds, pointing to industrial pollution. Phosphate levels also jumped significantly, nearing effluent discharge limits and raising concerns about algal blooms. Despite resident complaints and RTI submissions, enforcement against polluting units remains lax, as confirmed by the GPCB's referral of complaints to the Mehsana municipality.
