After a two-month-long river rafting expedition along the Ganga, The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team has found that pollution level in the river is “very high” in Uttar Pradesh.

About the ITBP Ganga Mission

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police are undertaking a unique mission to spread awareness about government initiatives.

A 46 member team headed by ITBP commandant, Surendar Khatri will set their rafts along the river Ganga in Devprayag, where the tributaries Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge into the river.

During the 2,350-km long expedition covering states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, the ITBP teams noticed at least 20 human bodies floating in the Ganga

The mainstream, 200 carcasses of various animals and about 100 half-burnt or un-burnt human bodies which were lying near the banks of the holy river

They will spread awareness about government's initiatives like 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' and 'Swachh Bharat',

They will pick up plastic and garbage enroute their journey to Gangasagar in West Bengal.

The team will also document the presence of the endangered Gangetic dolphins, collect water and soil samples, and submit them to laboratories to check the level of pollution in the river.

The team will sail on the river through five states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, covering a distance of nearly 2,350 kilometres.

The ITBP not only protects our borders, but has now come to the rescue of the river Ganges,.

Causes of pollution of Ganga

Hundreds of floating bodies of humans and animals, funeral on the banks and less flow of water in the mainstream are among the major causes of pollution of the Ganga River