The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently asked the Ministry of Environment and other departments about the role of groundwater in maintaining the Ganga River's flow during the summer. This inquiry is based on a new study from IIT Roorkee, which found that the Ganga's flow during summer is sustained by groundwater, not melting glaciers. The NGT has scheduled the next hearing for this matter on November 10, 2025.
NGT's Actions and Directives
Justice Prakash Shrivastava, the NGT chairperson, took suo motu cognizance of this issue on August 1, 2025, based on a report in
that referenced the IIT Roorkee study, shedding new light on the Ganga's flow. The NGT directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Water Resources Department, the National Mission for Clean Ganga, and the Central Ground Water Board to submit their reports by November 3. Should any department submit a report, their representatives must attend the hearing via video conferencing.
Source: aajtak
IIT Roorkee Study: Groundwater as the Ganga's Lifeline
The study was led by Professor Abhayanand Singh Maurya from the Earth Sciences Department at IIT Roorkee, focusing on the isotopic analysis of the Ganga and its tributaries. Published in the Hydrological Processes Journal, this comprehensive analysis covers the flow from the Himalayas to the delta. The key findings include:
Minimal glacier contribution: Beyond the Himalayas, glacier meltwater is almost negligible as the Ganga enters the plains. The flow is largely dependent on groundwater from the foothills to Patna.
Groundwater power: Groundwater seepage boosts the river's flow in the plains by 120%, sustaining the river's health.
Evaporation challenge: In the summer, 58% of the Ganga's water is lost to evaporation, posing a significant challenge.
Stable aquifers: While groundwater scarcity is a concern in North India, two decades of field data show stable aquifers in the central plains of the Ganga, consistently providing water through hand pumps.
Causes of Ganga's drying: The study points to excessive water withdrawal, neglect of tributaries, and excessive water retention by barrages as reasons for the river's decline, not groundwater scarcity.
Source: aajtak
A New Approach for Ganga Conservation
This study could be a game-changer for ongoing conservation efforts like Namami Gange and the Jal Shakti Abhiyan. Previously thought to be glacier-fed, it's now clear that groundwater sustains the Ganga during summer. Experts suggest:
Releasing adequate water from barrages.
Reviving tributaries is crucial.
Focusing on groundwater recharge and aquifer management.
Restoring wetlands for Ganga's support.
The Challenges Facing the Ganga
The Ganga is a cultural and economic treasure of India, yet it faces existential threats from pollution, climate change, and over-extraction. The Namami Gange mission aims to establish 7,000 MLD sewage treatment plants by 2026, but more work is needed in groundwater management. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, parts of the Ganga have pollution levels beyond safe biological limits.
Source: aajtak
The NGT's step and IIT Roorkee's study mark significant progress in the conservation of the Ganga. Policies must recognize groundwater as the river's backbone. The upcoming November 10 hearing may lead to a new strategy with departmental reports. Saving the Ganga is not only an environmental imperative but also our cultural and economic duty, ensuring this sacred river endures for future generations.
