The Ganga is India's most important river. Its sprawling basin is home to almost half the country’s population, and generates approximately 40 percent of the country's GDP.
Today, despite its great potential to be an engine of economic growth, the Ganga basin is a microcosm of the complex problems that confront some of India's most populous areas. Ever-growing populations, unplanned urbanisation and rapid industrialisation generate heavy pollution loads that incessantly sully the river. Over-abstraction, competing water demands, and diversions and obstructions have wreaked havoc on the health of the river and its ability to nourish the millions of people who live and work in the basin.
India is now seeking to develop solutions to these challenges. The World Bank is supporting the government’s efforts, across a range of sectors, to ensure that the Ganga emerges and remains a healthy, working river. Read this booklet for more information.
