Rivers, Rights, and Religion: Securing Legal Personhood for the Ganges River in India

Abstract

    Every day, as the sun rises in the Himalayas, the water from the melting glaciers flows into what becomes the Ganges River. Yet, what starts as pristine glacial water becomes polluted with toxic chemicals, sewage, and human remains by the time it flows through India and Bangladesh and empties into the Bay of Bengal.

     Beyond being a crucial natural resource serving a third of India’s population, the Ganges River is also a religious landmark to the approximately 900 million Hindus around the world, many of whom make the pilgrimage to scatter their loved ones’ ashes in the holy waters. The banks of the river are also home to many businesses and irrigation channels used for crucial agricultural needs. Consequently, the water that is home to endangered species and used for drinking is becoming increasingly polluted. While there are laws that regulate some activity along the river, the river as a whole must be protected and authorized to defend itself against these multiple sources of contamination. Granting the river legal personhood is a step in the right direction.