Population Growth, Land Use, and the Animal Kingdom
The nexus between population growth, land use, and water quality underscores the challenges of managing the Ganges in an era of rapid development. As the population in the basin continues to grow, the demand for land and water resources intensifies, further straining the river’s capacity to support both human and ecological needs. As a note, in the hot summer months, the river no longer reaches the Bay of Bengal. This is in part due surely to the global impact of climate change but additionally can be attributed to the extraction of ground water, for agricultural use, which maintains the river in the summer. Given that the Ganges River is a trans-boundary river, it requires maintenance by all parties and this continuation of low water levels heavily influences the pollution levels in the river. Addressing the Ganges’ pollution crisis thus requires not only technological interventions but also strategies to manage land use sustainably and equitably.
The ecological degradation of the Ganges has had severe repercussions not only for human populations but also for the river’s diverse animal life. The Ganges is home to several endangered species, including the Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica), which is one of the few freshwater dolphin species in the world. The river dolphin, often regarded as a symbol of the river’s health, has been critically affected by pollution and habitat loss. The decline in water quality, coupled with habitat fragmentation caused by dam construction, has led to a significant decrease in dolphin populations, making them a symbol of the river’s ecological decline.
Industrial discharge, large tannery plants, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage have led to the accumulation of toxic substances in the river, which has in turn affected the health and survival of aquatic species. The Ganges River is one of the most polluted in rivers in the world with 6.07 billion litres of wastewater discharged through drains every day. The decline in fish populations, which are a primary food source for the Ganges River dolphin, has had a cascading effect on the entire ecosystem. The loss of biodiversity in the Ganges is a stark indicator of the slow violence inflicted on the river, where the long-term consequences of environmental degradation are often overlooked in favor of short-term economic gains.
The impact of pollution on the Ganges’ animal life extends beyond the river itself. The degradation of the river’s ecosystem has also affected the health of terrestrial species that rely on the Ganges for water and food. For example, the loss of fish populations in the river has led to a decline in bird species that depend on these fish for sustenance. The pollution has also affected the health of livestock that drink from the river, leading to a decline in agricultural productivity and further exacerbating the poverty of rural communities.
The ecological violence inflicted on the Ganges’ animal life is a reflection of the broader, systemic issues highlighted by this paper. The intertwined fates of human and non-human life in the Ganges basin underscore the need for a more holistic approach to development—one that acknowledges the interconnectedness of all life and the destructive potential of unchecked, high modernist practices.
The slow violence against the Ganges’ animal life parallels the broader ecological crisis facing the river. The degradation of the river’s ecosystems is not just a loss of biodiversity, but also a loss of the cultural and spiritual connections that people have with the river. The Ganges is not just a body of water, but a living entity that sustains life in all its forms. The destruction of the river’s animal life is a form of ecological violence that has far-reaching implications for the health and well-being of both human and non-human communities.
