Pollution and Human Impact

Which one of the following is/are the main pollutant(s) of rivers?

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the following question.

Holy rivers have become a myth today. According to a report of the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) all the fourteen big rivers of India are heavily polluted. They cover 85 per cent of the surface water in the country. The main pollutant of the river water is the industrial waste. River Jamuna in Delhi receives 6000 kg of dissolved solids, 3000 kg of heavy metals and 200 kg of detergents every day. In its 48 kms stretch around Delhi, Yamuna gets polluted through 17 drains that bring toxics, acids and a number of chemicals that affect the health of the river and consequently of all those who depend on it for drinking and bathing.

Cauvery and Kapila in Karnataka are so polluted that in a stretch of 10 kms of the banks of Cauvery, people suffer badly from skin diseases, boils and burning sensation. Cauvery receives industrial wastes from Tamil Nadu. The story of Godaveri is no different. It receives 4,500 gallons of toxic waste everyday from Andhra Paper Mills alone. Plankton, on which fishes' depend, has been dying in large numbers in the rivers. Similarly Hoogly and Damodar, receive untreated waste from coal washeries, pulp and paper mills, steel mills, and chemical industries in Bengal. Hoogly receives industrial wastes of 150 big factories including jute mills, textile mills, paper and pulp factories distilleries, and tanneries. Even the fishes have been greatly contaminated causing bone diseases and arthritis among those who eat fish in the area. The waste of fertilizer plant and Indian Oil Corporation flowing in to Mahi Sagar in Gujarat has killed fishes, cattles and even elephants.

Human and animal excreta flows into all rivers in India. As it is untreated it is responsible for almost all water borne diseases. Untreated sewage flows into the Jamuna in Delhi through 17 open drains. Chambal, tributary of the Jamuna, is the most polluted river in Rajasthan. The people between Rajpura and Nagda suffer from acute shin diseases because of the water pollution.
Efforts have been made to remove pollution of the Ganga by Central Ganga Authority (CGA). No serious efforts have been made anywhere else. No government efforts can make the rivers clean if the common man has no consciousness as to how to keep the rivers clean as he keeps his house neat and clean. Non Government Organizations can play an important role in educating the people both in cities and the rural areas.

Which of these fits gap 21?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.
Pollution is one of the major ______ (21) ______ to the environment.  There are many types of pollution like air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution.  We must ____ (22) ____ towards reducing the pollution.  There are many ways to do this. For example, one can use vehicles and automobiles _____ (23) _____ on eco-friendly fuels.  One can also ____ (24) _____ the use of polythene bags.  One can even use natural manure in place of chemical fertilisers for the crops.