The Impact of Land Use/Land Cover Change on Water Quality in the Middle Ganga Region: A Review

The review paper delves into the intricacies of water quality index (WQI) and its relationship with land use and land cover in the Ganga River basin of Uttar Pradesh. The study highlights the significance of the Ganga River, a major perennial river in India, and presents findings from previous paper work shows that 57 sites of Ganga basin show fair, poor, or heavily polluted water quality. Analysis of live storage data within the basin revealed a notable increase in LULC compared to previous years, resulting in decrease water quality indicators such as low rate of dissolved oxygen (DO) levels and high concentrations of pollutants like faecal coliform, total coliform, and nitrate (NO₃^-). The observed increased in nitrate concentration, particularly attributed to enhance industrial activities and agricultural runoff during the harvesting season, suggests a negative trend towards water quality restoration. The prevalence of untreated commercial and industrial wastewater remains a significant challenge to sustained water quality improvement. In conclusion, the paper advocates for addressing land use land cover of the Ganga basin and ensuring adequate flow releases to rejuvenate the river effectively. It underscores the need for comprehensive measures to sustainably manage land use and cover water resources and mitigate anthropogenic impacts on the middle Ganga River.