The biological water quality of Narmada river is under category B-C, which is below average. The reason for the degradation of water quality is mainly due to human activities, including religious, recreational and agricultural. These were the findings of the project 'Bio Mapping of River Narmada', conducted by Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) on the initiative of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The report further states that confluences of domestic effluents were affecting the water quality of the river. This two-year tenure project started in May 2007. Monitoring work was started from October 2007 with identification of sampling sites in the entire river stretch in the State. As many as 30 sampling sites were fixed for monitoring the river. The eastern zone covers the river stretch from Amarkantak to Narsingpur with 14 sampling sites. In the central zone the sampling sites were in Hoshangabad region with eight sampling sites while the western zone covered the Malwa region with eight sampling sites. Senior MPPCB scientist Rita Kori said that Biological Water Quality Criteria (BWQC) had been used for evaluating the water quality based on identification of macro invertebrate families and awarding a specific diversity score to designate the quality, in ascending order, from Class A to E. She further revealed, "The quality of the river water based on physico-chemical analysis has been classified in Class A to D as per BIS 2296 (1982) at different sampling locations with Class B and C in most of the sampling points classified the water used for outdoor bathing and other recreation use." The condition of the river is continuously deteriorating due to pollution, which is a matter a concern for everyone, she added. The report clearly states that in the eastern zone at the origin of the river at Amarkantak the biological water quality did not support benthic macro-invertebrates due to lack of any substratum. In subsequent sampling locations the quality of water classified in Class B-C based on BWQC score. Deteriorating water quality is due to anthropogenic activities within and around the riverbed. At one location Kapilvan of Amarkantak region observed Class D during January 2009. In the central zone, the biological water quality of the river classified in Class B-C. The reason for the degradation of water quality is mainly due to human activities, mainly religious, recreational and agricultural. The confluence of domestic effluent was affecting the water quality of the river. In the western zone the BWQC score designated the quality of the river water in Class B-C at all the sampling locations. There is only one voluntary orgnaisaiton Narmada Samagra working for the conservation of the holy river. Convener of the organisation Anil Dave, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, informed The Pioneer, "We had observed this contamination years ago and thus launched special drive for conservation of the river. He claimed that the major three factors responsible for pollution in the river, were industrialisation, agriculture and urbanisation." The first two factors were major factors and there was a need to check them effectively. The contamination due to urbanisation is not that much hazardous, he added. "In the campaign, we create awareness towards conservation of the river, clean the ghats and work for protecting forests in the surroundings. This is not a perennial river, the water comes in the river from forests," he added.