Just 7 spots in Gujarat have clean water

The Gujarat Pollution Control Board's annual report on the quality of water bodies in the state shows that only seven locations boast of clean water. Collected samples indicate that 70% of all water bodies tested had slight to moderate pollution. The annual report bio-monitors 30 different locations, drawing samples for testing twice or thrice a year.

Mahi, Anas, Panam and Tapi rivers showed zero pollutions at certain, and not all, locations. The rivers were categorised from A to E sections, based on their water quality, with Class 'A' denoting clean and 'E' representing severe pollution. Interestingly, though environmentalists have been crying themselves hoarse about the deteriorating quality of the water in Sabarmati river due to dumping of effluents, some spots in the river in Ahmedabad showed just moderate pollution.

In fact, one of the locations at Vautha, which has repeatedly been pointed out as one of the most polluted stretches in the country showed only moderate pollution as per the GPCB report, marked by 'green' colour.

Environmental activist Mahesh Pandya is baffled by this development. He said the GPCB had recently tested this stretch, along with citizens and the results were worrying. "Their own report showed extreme pollution, so it's a surprise that their annual report shows slight to moderate pollution," he said. Pandya points out that what the report showed is not as important as investigating what the body did to counter pollution.

"The report gives figures but stays silent on the action that needs to be taken (to reverse the contamination)," he says, adding, "The body releases a report, but takes no action though it was formed to control water pollution."

Pranav Pandya, an environmental auditor, said the results drawn from the bio-monitoring exercise depends on a variety of factors. "Such as the season in which the samples were taken, the temperature at which the samples were preserved and even what part of the bank it was taken from play a crucial part," said Pranav.

Even at one particular spot, say Vautha, samples taken from the left and right bank will show different results. "At one spot, a mega pipeline empties industrial waste into the river, while dilution from other water sources could have improved the quality at the other end," said Pranav.