Part 10/15:
Despite the ambitious goals, many previous projects failed due to resource constraints, bureaucratic hurdles, and inadequate enforcement. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily reduced pollution levels during nationwide lockdowns; however, pollution rebounded with the resumption of industrial activities, reinforcing the river’s fragile condition.
The Role of Communities and Changing Perspectives
Local residents and professionals, like tour guide Viman Kumar Pathak, have noticed tangible improvements. Pathak recalls seeing the Ganga no longer choked with debris, hosting abundant migratory birds, and supporting a thriving ecosystem, especially during the lockdown periods. These signs of renewal have rekindled hope among some stakeholders that collective effort can yield results.