Motorised boats at Ganges river front at Varanasi

According to an ongoing temperature analysis conducted by scientists at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), the average global temperature on Earth has increased by about 0.8° Celsius (1.4° Fahrenheit) since 1880. But why should we care about one degree of warming? After all, the temperature fluctuates by many degrees every day where we live. The temperatures we experience locally and in short periods can fluctuate significantly due to predictable cyclical events (night and day, summer and winter) and hard-to-predict wind and precipitation patterns. But the global temperature mainly depends on how much energy the planet receives from the Sun and how much it radiates back into space—quantities that change very little. The amount of energy radiated by the Earth depends significantly on the chemical composition of the atmosphere, particularly the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. A one-degree global change is significant because it takes a vast amount of heat to warm all the oceans, atmosphere, and land by that much. In the past, a one- to two-degree drop was all it took to plunge the Earth into the Little Ice Age.

           Source: https://www.climate4you.com/SeaTemperatures.htm

The dominant mechanisms are anthropogenic, i.e., the result of human activity. They are: a) increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases; b) global changes to land surface, such as vehicle, motorised diesel vehicles/boats, deforestation and c) increasing atmospheric concentrations of emissions and aerosols. There are also natural mechanisms for variation including climate oscillations, changes in solar activity, and volcanic activity. Recently I visited Varanasi, politically a hot place and “development” is on the highest agenda. Alongwith infrastructure development, religious tourism; a means of employment with religious fervour in Varanasi. National Mission for Clean Ganga has been launched to rejuvenate the holy river. Thus the newly created structures will attempt to bring all stakeholders on one platform for a holistic approach towards the task of Ganga cleaning and rejuvenation.

Ganga Aarti at the Ghat

It is a new method to attract tourists at the ghats. I am told this started first at Dashashwamedh ghat. Such aarti has proliferated at least in 3-4 ghats now. Thousands of boats with about 5000-6000 people witness this event from the river front. The diesel operated motor boats, during peak hours makes it difficult to breathe. As if the sewage, industrial and other sources of water pollution were not enough, a new source has added to the woe in the form air pollution. Age old Hindu practice of burning dead bodies at Harishchandra and Manikarnika Ghats. The fumes from these ghats also do not take us to salvation. Believe it!! during peak hours it becomes difficult to breathe. Can we not have eco-friendly ways for worshiping Ganges? Suggested actions: Immediate banning of motorised boats.