New Delhi: The Centre is conducting a study to evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2, or novel coronavirus, within the Ganga after corpses had been discovered dumped within the river through the second COVID-19 wave, and had been fished out from districts in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The study is being performed in phases and the primary set of samples have already been collected from 13 places, from Kannauj and Patna, mentioned Saroj Batik, the Director of Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow.
During the virological study, RNA of viruses of curiosity current within the water will likely be extracted and subjected to an RT-PCR take a look at to find out the presence of novel coronavirus in it, Batik mentioned, in response to information company PTI.
The IITR is an institute beneath the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), he mentioned.
The study may also embrace checking the organic traits of the river.
The technique of taking samples for the subsequent section started on Monday, officers mentioned.
The determination to conduct such a study was taken by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) after our bodies had been discovered dumped within the river when the second wave of coronavirus was at its peak in April-May.
Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat final week tweeted, “We are making use of existing technologies, doing regular studies and monitoring the situation closely to prevent contamination of the river water, as there were reports of consigning dead bodies in some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar into river #Ganga.”
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had been among the many states badly hit by the second wave of coronavirus.
There was additionally concern whether or not our bodies, probably of COVID-19 sufferers, had led to contamination of the river water, a significant supply of consuming within the districts alongside it.
Experts had dismissed that there could possibly be any risk of presence of the virus within the river.
“The virus does not survive in these conditions (that are in the river). However, we decided to have an evidence-based study,” D P Mathuria, Executive Director of the NMCG, mentioned.
An official added that the SARS-CoV2 doesn’t survive exterior the host for a very long time and so it’s unlikely that the virus will keep within the river.
Mathuria mentioned the study is being performed in collaboration with the CSIR, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the state air pollution management boards of UP and Bihar.
Mathuria added that they’ve additionally requested the Uttar Pradesh Health Department to appoint an officer with whom the findings of the study could possibly be shared.
The NMCG is an arm of the Jal Shakti ministry that’s executing the Namami Gange venture to rejuvenate the river and its tributaries.
After the our bodies had been discovered to have been dumped within the river, the NMCG directed the states to take obligatory precautions to make sure that mortal stays usually are not consigned to the river.
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