The Hindon Basin and Its Importance

•    The Hindon River is a 350 km-long tributary of the Yamuna River, originating in the lower Himalayas (Shivalik range) in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and flowing through Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar before merging into the Yamuna.
•    The river plays a crucial role in agriculture, water supply, and ecosystem sustainability but has suffered from excessive water abstraction and pollution.
•    The basin is predominantly agricultural with two significant urban centers: Saharanpur (near its origin) and Ghaziabad (near its confluence).
•    It has major tributaries, including the Kali River (West) and Krishni River, which contribute additional pollution to the Hindon.

2. Environmental and Water Conditions
•    Topography & Climate:
o    The Hindon basin features fertile alluvial plains, which have supported agriculture for centuries.
o    The basin experiences semi-arid to sub-humid climatic conditions, with rainfall primarily from the monsoon.
•    Water Flow & Pollution Levels:
o    The Hindon River faces extreme pollution levels, especially near urban areas where industrial and domestic wastewater is discharged untreated.
o    Pesticide and heavy metal contamination have severely affected groundwater and surface water quality.
o    Effluent discharge from industries like paper mills, sugar mills, and tanneries has contributed to biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical pollution.
o    The floodplain condition is deteriorating due to illegal construction and land encroachment.

3. Biodiversity and Ecological Concerns
•    Biodiversity in the Hindon River Basin has declined drastically due to pollution and habitat destruction.
•    Several species of fish, birds, and mammals that once thrived in the basin have either disappeared or are facing population declines.
•    The report highlights the presence of forest areas, riparian vegetation, and wetland biodiversity in different sections of the river.

4. Threats & Major Issues
•    Basin-Level Environmental Challenges:
o    Over-extraction of groundwater, which has caused a drastic decline in the water table.
o    Encroachment and illegal construction on the floodplain, especially in Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
o    Sewage disposal and solid waste dumping directly into the river.
o    Deforestation and loss of riparian buffer zones, increasing soil erosion and degrading water quality.
•    District-wise Environmental Issues:
o    Saharanpur: Industrial discharge, paper mill pollution.
o    Muzaffarnagar: Wastewater from sugar mills and agricultural runoff.
o    Meerut: Discharge of domestic sewage and tannery waste.
o    Baghpat: Encroachment of riverbanks by agricultural expansion.
o    Ghaziabad: Real estate encroachment, untreated sewage discharge, and chemical pollution.
o    Gautam Buddha Nagar: High urbanization impact, industrial effluents.