A study by the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the lockdown ensured at least 50 per cent reduction in chemical concentration in the Ganga river.
The study was conducted by a team of scientists from IIT-K to ascertain the impact of restricted anthropogenic activities on the water chemistry resilience of large rivers. The site selected by the team of researchers was downstream of Ganga river at Prayagraj where they studied the impact from March 25 till May 13.
The team analysed the daily geochemical record of the Ganga river which revealed that reduced industrial discharge during 51 days of nationwide lockdown decreased the dissolved heavy metal by a minimum of 50 per cent. Inputs from agricultural runoff and domestic sewage remained almost the same as these sources were not impacted by the confinement.
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