Impact Assessment of Gomti River Water Quality after Immersion of Idols During Durga Utsav

The Gomti river is one of the major tributaries of the Ganga instigates from a reservoir in the marshy and heavily woody area near Madho-Tanda (Miankot) with an elevation of 200 m. It is originated about 50 kmsouth of the Himalaya foot-hills and about 3 km east of Pilibhit in UttarPradesh. Assessment of river water quality used for drinking and domestic purpose should be an important criterion from public health point of view especially when unwanted things that can damage the quality of water are thrown into the water bodies.

The Quality of water is of vital concerns for human beings, since it is directly linked to human health and other living creatures. Besides, urbanization, the material used in religious rituals like flowers, incense sticks, food, sweets, clothes etc is dispersed in nullahs and Gomti results in pollution and deterioration of river water quality which supply as portable water for urban population. Durga Utsav is one such famous Hindufestival celebrated during the month of October. Traditionally, hundreds of idols of Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha are immersed in the river water on this occasion every year, containing biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials.