Eco Friends Massive Ganga cleaning campaign

(Second Phase- May 19, 2005 )

Eco Friends removed 24 decaying human corpses from a 6 km stretch of river Ganga (Massacre Ghat to Siddhanath Ghat Kanpur ) and buried them in the riverbed opposite Dapka Ghat on May 19. Thus Eco Friends cleaned a 10 km stretch of river Ganga by removing 96 rotten men and beasts (92 human and 4 animals) in two phases.
The apathy with which the sacred river Ganga continues to be treated is shocking. River Ganga is littered with human corpses and animal carcasses in Kanpur . On May 6, we counted roughly 100 bodies floating in various stages of decay in a short 10 km stretch of the river in Kanpur . We also saw d evotees bathing in the river Ganga and drinking from the river waters, turning a blind eye to dozens of decaying corpses floating around. The stench emanating from these decomposing bodies and the repulsive sight was unbearable and tragic.
While inability to afford the cremation expenses accounts for one-third of the floating corpses, another one-third is entirely due to the strong belief that immersing the dead brings moksha or salvation. Ironically, the remaining one-third is composed of those unclaimed bodies that the police conveniently dump into the river. It is an unbelievable commentary on the manner in which the dead humans and the living river gets treated.
Although no religious text speaks of consigning unburnt or partly burnt bodies to the river, the practice is rampant in Kanpur . Ritually it's the ashes that are immersed in sacred river Ganga . According to superstition, bodies of those who die from certain diseases (asthma, tuberculosis, leprosy, snake bite, poisoning etc.) and those of newborn babies, unmarried persons and holy men are consigned to the river. Two electric crematoria were constructed in Kanpur and one in Shuklaganj, Unnao to promote burning of bodies. But they fell into disuse for a variety of reasons, most notably lack of electricity and poor upkeep. The city faces severe power shutdowns. It takes months to rectify even minor technical faults. In addition, there is poor acceptability due to social taboo, and the vested interests of pandas (priests who handle cremation rites) and the wood sellers.
In 1987, Supreme Court of India directed the KNN and police to ensure that no bodies were thrown into the river. Allahabad High Court issued at least a dozen directions in 1997-1998 in this regard. There is a special provision in Water Pollution Prevention Act 1974 that State Pollution Control Boards should take emergency steps to remove the pollutants from the water bodies. May be, State Board does not think that decaying bodies are pollutants.
Allahabad High Court orders in the above regard are as follows:
Allahabad High Court
Rakesh K Jaiswal vs State of UP and others
On the Formation of River Police
“ We also direct the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanpur Nagar, to immediately set up a River Police Force for patrolling the river to ensure that no dead body is thrown in the river nor any illegal activity is carried out along the course of river in Kanpur”.... The Principal Secretary (Home), UP Government /Director General of Police, UP should immediately constitute and set up Jal Police in Kanpur with the direction that they ensure that no person throws dead –bodies or any other pollutant in the river Ganga . ( 24-03-98 )

The State Government should consider the question of increasing the cremation charges from Rs.150/- to Rs. 500/- w.e.f. 1.4.1998 and pass necessary orders in that regard.
Mr Virendra Singh, Under Secretary brought it to the notice of the court that the State Government has directed the Kanpur Nagar Nigam to enhance the charges for electric crematoria to Rs 500/- for which necessary orders have been issued. Shri R P Fuloria, Under Secretary, Home, Govt. of U.P. by his affidavit informed the court that to prevent the pollution like dumping of garbage, animal carcasses and dead bodies in the river, as also for preventing bank side defecation, washing clothes and wallowing of cattle etc. the State government has already approved the proposal to establish the river police in 16 cities.
But the River Police exists only on papers.
On Crematorium
“ Rs 500/- will now be charged for cremating any dead body in the electric crematorium by the Nagar Nigam and hence forth un-claimed bodies shall be cremated at the electric crematorium free of charge , as the enhanced amount will now take care of un claimed dead bodies from the amount which has been so enhanced. It is further made clear that if for one reason or the other the electric crematorium is not functional and some unclaimed body is not cremated at the electric crematorium, then the amount of Rs.500/- shall be given to the river police which will ensure that by purchasing sufficient fire wood a dead body is properly disposed of and cremated from the said amount of Rs.500.” ( 31-03-1998 )

“…Meanwhile it is directed that Senior Superintendents of Police as also Superintendents of Police of all the districts to constitute from their police force available in their districts teams of river police, by dividing their districts in such zones where ever there may be habitation of more than ten thousand persons. In the main cities more zones may be created according to the discretion of the Senior Superintendents of Police. It is directed that no person shall ease out in the open along the river. These River Police to be constituted by the Senior Superintendent of Police and the Superintendent of Police shall be responsible to ensure that washer-men are not permitted to wash their clothes in the river, that no dead animal or garbage is thrown in the river and that no person is permitted to use the riverside bed as the common ground for attending the morning and evening calls of the nature. Anyone violating these directions shall be dully challaned. The District Magistrate may at proper places ensure the setting up of Sulabh Shauchalaya so that the Police may ensure that any person who is otherwise found easing out in the open be diverted to them and not river bank for that purpose. All the Superintendents of Police including Senior Superintendent of Police shall personally monitor periodically as also through additional SPs and deputies that the river police is functioning as is contemplated by this order . The Inspector in charge of the River Police of his zone shall be liable for any lapse in this regard.” ( 5-5-98 )  

No one till date has been booked by the police for violating the court orders.
On the practice of dead body dumping and policing the river: