Q.Which one of the following rivers is highly polluted ? (A) Kosi (B) Ravi (C) Narmada (D) Yamuna

India’s network of National Waterways (NWs) was developed to shift a portion of the country’s freight traffic from congested roads and railways to rivers and canals, which are far more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) identifies and maintains these stretches. Among the earliest and most important is the Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly river system, designated as National Waterways No. 1. It runs from Allahabad (now Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh, down through Bihar and West Bengal, to Haldia near the Bay of Bengal. That stretch — Allahabad to Haldia — is indeed the correct match.

Now look at the other options, each of which contains a mismatch.

Option (C) says NW-2 is Kottapuram–Kollam. That is the West Coast Canal, which is NW-3, not NW-2. So the number and the stretch do not match. …

The Namami Gange Programme is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India in 2014. Its primary goal is to achieve effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga. This involves a comprehensive approach addressing various sources of pollution and ecological degradation. Understanding the core mission helps in identifying what falls within its scope and what does not.

1. Analyze the core objectives of the Namami Gange Programme:

   The programme is structured around several key pillars aimed at cleaning and revitalizing the Ganga. These include:

   • Sewerage Infrastructure: Developing and upgrading sewage treatment plants (STPs) to prevent untreated domestic wastewater from entering the river.
   • Industrial Effluent Monitoring: Enforcing stricter regulations and monitoring industrial units to control the discharge of pollutants into the Ganga.
   • River Front Development: Improving ghats (river banks) and crematoria along the river.
   • River Surface Cleaning: Removing floating solid waste from the river surface.
   • Biodiversity Conservation: Protecting and restoring aquatic and riparian biodiversity.
   • Afforestation: Planting trees along the river banks to enhance the ecosystem, prevent soil erosion, and improve water retention.
   • Public Awareness and Community Participation: Engaging local communities and raising awareness about river conservation.

2. Evaluate Option (A): Developing sewerage treatment systems in towns.

   This is a direct and major objective of the Namami Gange Programme. A significant portion of the program's budget and efforts are dedicated to creating and upgrading sewerage infrastructure in towns and cities situated along the Ganga to treat domestic wastewater before it enters the river. This directly addresses one of the largest sources of pollution.

3. Evaluate Option (B): Monitoring of industrial effluents.

   Controlling industrial pollution is another critical component of the program. Industries discharging into the Ganga are monitored, and measures are taken to ensure compliance with environmental norms, including the installation of effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems. This is clearly an objective. …

India's inland waterways have long been underutilised arteries of commerce, despite the country's extensive river network. National Waterway No. 1 holds the distinction of being the first formally declared national waterway in India, designated in 1986 to harness the transport potential of the Ganga river system. This waterway stretches across 1,620 kilometres, connecting the heartland of Uttar Pradesh with the port facilities of West Bengal.

The route begins at Allahabad, now officially known as Prayagraj, where the Ganga and Yamuna converge. From this historic confluence, the waterway follows the Ganga downstream through Bihar and into West Bengal, where the river transitions into the Bhagirathi and then the Hooghly. The terminal point is Haldia, a major port town south of Kolkata that provides access to the Bay of Bengal. This stretch passes through some of India's most densely populated and economically active regions, serving cities like Varanasi, Patna, and Kolkata along the way.

The other options represent different national waterways in India's expanding inland water transport network:

• Sadiya to Dhubri defines National Waterway No. 2, which runs along the Brahmaputra River in Assam, covering 891 kilometres through the northeastern floodplains.
• Kottapuram to Kollam marks National Waterway No. 3, a 205-kilometre route through Kerala's backwaters along the west coast, connecting the Champakara and Udyogmandal canals. …

The East-West Corridor is a crucial part of India's National Highways Development Project (NHDP), designed to improve connectivity across the country. Understanding its purpose and geographical extent is key to identifying its terminal points. This corridor, along with the North-South Corridor, forms the second phase of the NHDP, aiming to connect major industrial, agricultural, and cultural centres.

The core idea is to recognise that these corridors have designated start and end points. For the East-West Corridor, these points are fixed and widely known in Indian geography and infrastructure planning.

1. Identify the National Highways Development Project (NHDP): The NHDP is a large-scale project by the Government of India to upgrade, rehabilitate, and widen major national highways. It consists of several phases, with the Golden Quadrilateral, North-South Corridor, and East-West Corridor being the most prominent.

2. Focus on the East-West Corridor: This specific corridor aims to connect the westernmost part of India with its easternmost part, facilitating trade, transport, and regional development.

3. Determine the termini of the East-West Corridor:

   • The westernmost station of the East-West Corridor is Porbandar, located in the state of Gujarat. …

India possesses an extensive network of inland waterways, which serve as an economical and environmentally friendly mode of transport for both cargo and passengers. These waterways are crucial for regional connectivity, trade, and tourism, leveraging the country's vast river systems and canals. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is responsible for the development and regulation of these designated National Waterways.

The diagram provided illustrates a waterway along the Kerala coast, specifically highlighting the region between Kochi and Kollam. This particular stretch is famously known as the West Coast Canal, which forms a significant part of National Waterway Number 3 (NW-3).

National Waterway 3 spans a total length of 205 kilometers. It comprises three main sections:

• The West Coast Canal, extending from Kottapuram to Kollam (168 km).
• The Champakara Canal (14 km).
• The Udyogmandal Canal (23 km). …

India’s network of national waterways is a story of connecting its vast river systems for transport and trade. The question presents two versions — one with a diagram (for regular candidates) and one without (for visually impaired candidates). Both lead to the same core knowledge about India’s inland waterways.

Let’s start with the diagram version. Mark (A) is placed on a map of India’s major waterways. To identify it, you need to recall the key national waterways and their terminal points. National Waterway 1 runs on the Ganga from Allahabad to Haldia. National Waterway 2 runs on the Brahmaputra from Sadiya in the east to Dhubri in the west. National Waterway 3 runs on the West Coast Canal from Kottapuram to Kollam. National Waterway 4 runs on the Godavari and Krishna rivers, and National Waterway 5 runs on the Mahanadi and Brahmani rivers.

Now, look at the options: Kakinada is a port in Andhra Pradesh, linked to National Waterway 4. Kottapuram is the southern terminus of National Waterway 3 in Kerala. Sadiya is the easternmost point of National Waterway 2 on the Brahmaputra. Dhubri is the western terminus of National Waterway 2, also on the Brahmaputra. In a typical diagram of India’s waterways, the mark (A) is placed at the western end of the Brahmaputra waterway — that is Dhubri, near the border with Bangladesh.

The question hinges on a map of India's National Waterways, where specific points are labelled with letters. Mark (B) is placed at the southernmost tip of the West Coast Canal system, which runs from Kollam in Kerala all the way up to Kottapuram. This canal forms the backbone of National Waterway 3 — a 205-kilometre stretch that connects the backwaters of Kerala and serves as a vital artery for cargo and passenger movement through the state's lush, waterlogged terrain.

Kollam, historically known as Quilon, has been a major port and trading hub for centuries, linking the Malabar Coast to the Arabian Sea. Its location on the Ashtamudi Lake makes it the natural southern gateway for this waterway. The diagram likely shows the West Coast Canal as a continuous line along Kerala's coast, with (B) marking its southern end at Kollam.

India's rivers are vital lifelines, supporting agriculture, industry, and human settlements. However, many of these rivers face significant challenges from pollution, primarily due to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and inadequate waste management. Understanding the specific issues affecting different rivers helps us grasp the scale of this environmental concern.

The Kosi River, often referred to as the "Sorrow of Bihar," is primarily known for its frequent and devastating floods, caused by its highly unstable course and heavy siltation. While it faces some pollution from agricultural runoff and domestic waste in its basin, its most prominent environmental challenge is related to its hydrological dynamics rather than severe industrial or urban pollution in the same vein as other major rivers.

The Ravi River, flowing through parts of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab before entering Pakistan, also experiences pollution. This includes agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilizers, as well as industrial effluents from towns along its banks. However, while facing pollution, it is generally not cited as one of the most critically polluted rivers in India when compared to those flowing through mega-cities.

The Narmada River, one of the major west-flowing rivers in India, is often celebrated for its relatively pristine stretches, especially in its upper and middle reaches. It is considered ecologically significant and is the subject of various conservation efforts. While it faces localized pollution from human settlements and agricultural activities, particularly in its lower basin, it is generally regarded as less polluted than many other large Indian rivers that pass through densely populated industrial corridors. …