Threats & Major Issues Affecting the Hindon River

The Hindon River is facing severe environmental and anthropogenic threats, leading to its degradation, pollution, and loss of ecological balance. The Hindon River Report highlights several major challenges that have significantly impacted the river’s health, biodiversity, and water quality. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key threats:

1. Basin-Level Environmental Degradation
a. Declining Forest Cover
•    The forest cover in the Hindon River basin has declined to a mere 2%.
•    Dense forest has decreased by 26.5%, while open forest has reduced by 38% over the years.
•    Deforestation in the upper catchment (Shivalik Hills) has led to: 
o    Reduced rainfall and groundwater recharge.
o    Increased soil erosion, leading to siltation in the riverbed.
o    Rise in temperature trends, impacting surface runoff and water availability.
b. Over-Extraction of Groundwater
•    Unregulated groundwater extraction has drastically lowered the water table, reducing base flows into the Hindon River.
•    Over-exploited districts: 
o    Baghpat: 116.61% groundwater development.
o    Saharanpur: 133% groundwater development.
o    Muzaffarnagar: Declining trend (82% in 2008, 66% in 2011).
o    Ghaziabad: 105% groundwater development.
•    The excessive use of tube wells and borewells for irrigation is reducing natural water recharge.
c. Climate Change & Rising Temperatures
•    Climate change has led to a rise in temperature in the Hindon Basin, causing: 
o    Higher evaporation rates and water loss.
o    Increased demand for irrigation, leading to further water stress.

2. Industrial & Urban Pollution
a. Industrial Effluents
•    Over 350 industrial units discharge 98,000 KL of untreated wastewater daily into the Hindon River.
•    Key polluting industries: 
o    Sugar mills (Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat)
o    Paper mills (Kali tributary, Saharanpur)
o    Tanneries and distilleries (Ghaziabad, Meerut)
o    Chemical units (Ghaziabad, Baghpat).
•    Major contaminants include: 
o    Heavy metals (Lead, Chromium, Cadmium)
o    Toxic chemicals (Sulfur dioxide, Hydrochloric acid, Phosphates)
o    Organic pollutants (High BOD, COD, fecal coliform)
b. Domestic Sewage & Solid Waste Dumping
•    Ghaziabad alone dumps 127 MLD (Million Liters per Day) of untreated sewage into the Hindon River.
•    Other key contributors: 
o    Saharanpur (100 MLD)
o    Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat (85,000 KL)
•    Urban settlements dump solid waste and plastic into the river, making it a sewage drain.
c. Encroachment on Floodplains
•    Illegal construction and real estate expansion on floodplain areas have reduced the river’s width, preventing natural water flow.
•    Examples of encroachment: 
o    Ghaziabad: 11 out of 52 hectares of waterbodies have been encroached upon.
o    Baghpat: Illegal colonies discharge sewage directly into the river.
•    The UP government’s 2010 floodplain protection order is largely ignored, allowing land mafias to shrink river space.

3. Health & Livelihood Impacts
a. Rising Cases of Cancer & Waterborne Diseases
•    Toxic pollutants have led to a public health crisis along the Hindon River.
•    Documented health effects include: 
o    High cancer rates in Baghpat, Meerut, and Ghaziabad.
o    Chronic skin infections, digestive disorders, and respiratory illnesses.
o    Increased cases of hepatitis (B & C) and birth defects in newborns.
•    Groundwater contamination due to industrial effluents is forcing villagers to buy expensive RO-filtered water.
b. Loss of Fisheries & Agricultural Impact
•    Fish biodiversity has collapsed, with zero survival of aquatic life in Hindon Barrage samples.
•    Farmers in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar report that water from the Hindon kills crops instead of irrigating them.

4. Administrative Failures & Policy Gaps
a. Lack of Effective River Governance
•    No single agency is responsible for the comprehensive management of the Hindon River.
•    Multiple agencies (pollution control boards, municipal bodies, irrigation departments) operate independently, leading to poor coordination.
b. Weak Enforcement of Pollution Laws
•    NGT rulings have not been strictly enforced, allowing industrial pollution and encroachment to continue.
•    Example of weak enforcement: 
o    Arsenic contamination in Baghpat (40 mg/L, 4000 times above the safe limit) continues despite NGT orders to provide clean water.
o    Fines imposed on illegal dumping (₹20,000 per violation) have not been effective