For a clean ganga
Certain plants absorb pollutants from wastewater for their metabolism. A team from the National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow, planned a plant-based project to clean the Ganga. U N Rai, environment scientist who heads the team, speaks to Savvy Soumya Misra
On how the project began
With the help of a non-profit in Pune, our group of four scientists submitted a project on cleaning the Ganga through all the states to the Planning Commission in 2005. We made our presentation to the Prime Minister in May this year.
On what phytoremediation entails
Utilizing plants to mitigate environmental problems is called phytoremediation. We have identified 20-25 plants that can efficiently remove heavy metals like chromium from the soil. These include bulrushes such as Scirpus lacustris and Typha latifolia that grow in wetlands.Phragmites karka, an aquatic reed, has roots with bacteria and fungi living on them. The microbes use the heavy metals as food source.
On the first experiment
In 2003, we executed a project at a common effluent treatment plant in Uttar Pradesh. The aquatic plant Vallisneria spiralis (Indian red sword) was grown in a sludge pool for 14 days and then uprooted. Its roots accumulated 358g of chromium per gramme of dry weight of the plant. The plant was composted for manure which had high mineral content. The pool showed a heavy loss in chromium concentration.
On the project
Related Content
- Response by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on STPs in Uttarakhand, 18/04/2024
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding STPs along river Yamuna installed by DJB not functioning as per norms, 23/02/2024
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding dumping of waste into river Hooghly and construction of huge concrete pillars jeopardising the river, 20/02/2024
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding floating hotel in Tehri lake, Uttarakhand, 12/02/2024
- Compliance report filed by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board on industrial units in Roop Nagar, Arya Nagar and Tronica city of Loni area, Ghaziabad, 02/01/2024
- Interim report by the Environment Department, Haryana regarding sewage and effluent treatment capacity, 12/12/2023