Sehore, April 9 Approximately 11,000 litres of milk were poured into the Narmada River, often considered the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh, in the Sehore district as part of a 21-day religious event, as a ritual of purification. This has prompted environmentalists to raise concerns about its negative impact on the ecosystem.
The event concluded at Satdev village in the Bherunda area, located about 90 km from the district headquarters, with a 'mahayagna' (large-scale ritual) on Wednesday.
The milk was offered to the river as part of rituals and prayers for the purity of the water, the well-being of pilgrims, and prosperity, according to organizers.
The milk was transported in tankers to the riverbank and then poured into the flowing water, accompanied by chanting of mantras by a large group of devotees.
However, environmentalists expressed concerns about this practice, warning of its potential ecological impact.
"Such large quantities of organic matter can deplete dissolved oxygen in the water, adversely affecting the river ecosystem," said environmentalist and wildlife activist Ajay Dube. "This can also affect local communities that depend on the river for drinking water and threatens aquatic life as well as domestic animals."
Dube emphasized that religious offerings should be symbolic and mindful.
Renowned environmentalist Subhash Pandey stated that 11,000 litres of milk is a significant organic pollutant.
"It is highly oxygen-demanding and can lead to oxygen depletion, aquatic mortality, eutrophication (the process of plants growing on the river surface), and loss of potability. These effects are predictable from dairy-effluent chemistry and have been documented in similar incidents worldwide," Pandey pointed out.
The Narmada River originates in Amarkantak in the state and flows westward for 1,312 km to reach Maharashtra and Gujarat, eventually emptying into the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Cambay.
It is the largest west-flowing river in the peninsula, passing through a rift valley, and serves as a crucial water source for irrigation in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.