August 25, 2025

Hold on, river lovers! The mighty Ganga’s summer flow isn’t riding on glacier melt as hard as we thought. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) just jumped into action after an eye-opening IIT Roorkee study revealed a juicy secret — groundwater is actually the real hero here! "Glacier melt contributes minimally to the river's discharge once it enters the plains," the study says. Instead, groundwater boosts the Ganga’s volume by nearly 120 percent after the river leaves the foothills and flows towards Patna. On August 20, a special NGT bench led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava took note of this revelation. Experts Dr. A. Senthil Vel and Dr. Prashant Gargava joined in the hearing, making it clear that the old belief of glaciers feeding the summer Ganga flow might need a makeover. The study used isotope analysis on the Ganga and its tributaries, uncovering that about 58 percent of the water slips away into evaporation during summer. Ouch! This puts the spotlight on the urgent need to save every drop. What next? The study suggests pumping up efforts like Namami Gange and Jal Shakti Abhiyan to focus more on groundwater recharge, managing underground aquifers, restoring wetlands, and reviving the Ganga's many tributaries. These steps could keep the holy river flowing year-round. The NGT didn’t stop there. The tribunal noted the environmental laws at stake under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. They referenced a 2021 Supreme Court case (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha and Others), reminding everyone about their power to act suo motu — that means on their own, without waiting for complaints. Four big agencies are now in the hot seat as respondents: the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation; the National Mission for Clean Ganga; and the Central Ground Water Board. The tribunal ordered all four to file their replies by affidavit at least a week before the next hearing. And if they send in replies without a lawyer, their officials must appear virtually to assist during the hearings. This is a serious call to action! Mark your calendars! The Ganga’s future is on the tribunal’s table again on November 10, 2025. Will this new understanding spark a fresh wave of river-saving magic? Only time will tell, but one thing’s certain — the groundwater story of the Ganga is a game-changer!

Read More at Economictimes →

Tags: Ganga river, Groundwater, Glacier melt, National green tribunal, Iit roorkee study, Namami gange,