Thesis Abstract

Abstract
South Asia faces a severe water crisis, exacerbated by pollution in its sacred rivers. This environmental science project aims to investigate the impact of pollution on the sacred rivers of South Asia and propose solutions to confront the water crisis. The Ganges, Yamuna, and other revered rivers are heavily polluted with industrial waste, sewage, and plastic debris, posing a serious threat to human health and the ecosystem. Through a comprehensive analysis of water quality parameters, microbial contamination levels, and biodiversity assessments, this project seeks to quantify the extent of pollution in these rivers and its consequences. Furthermore, the project will explore the cultural and religious significance of these rivers to understand the societal implications of their degradation. The research will involve fieldwork along different stretches of the rivers to collect water samples and assess pollution levels. Laboratory analysis will be conducted to measure parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, heavy metal concentrations, and fecal coliform counts to determine the water quality. Microbial contamination will be assessed using molecular techniques to identify pathogens present in the water. Additionally, biodiversity surveys will be conducted to evaluate the impact of pollution on aquatic life in the rivers. The findings of this research will provide valuable insights into the current state of the sacred rivers in South Asia and the urgent need for remedial actions. Recommendations will be made for policy interventions, community engagement initiatives, and technological solutions to address the water crisis. By integrating scientific data with cultural perspectives, this project aims to raise awareness about the interconnectedness of environmental degradation and cultural heritage. Overall, this project will contribute to the ongoing discourse on water pollution in South Asia and offer a multidimensional approach to tackling the water crisis. By confronting the challenges faced by the sacred rivers, this research seeks to promote sustainable water management practices and preserve these vital water bodies for future generations. Through collaboration with local communities, policymakers, and environmental organizations, this project aspires to catalyze positive change and foster a deeper appreciation for the importance of clean water in the region.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Housing is an integral part of human settlement that fulfils basic need and has a profound impact on the quality of life, health, welfare as well as productivity of man. It plays a crucial role in integrated physical and economic development, environmental sustainability, natural disaster mitigation and employment generation as well as wealth creation (Erguden, 2001; Boehm and Schlottmann, 2001; UN-HABITAT, 2006a).

The desire for adequate and affordable housing also has strong links to the need for security, safety and proper socio-economic status of individuals and communities. In spite of this widely acknowledged importance of housing and various efforts in making adequate and affordable housing available to majority of people, a large proportion of urban residents in less developed countries do not have access to decent housing at affordable cost (Tipple,2004; 2006; UN-HABITAT, 2006a; Greene and Rojas, 2008).

As a result, most urban residents in Developing Countries live in housing conditions that constitute an affront to human dignity and which comes with appalling social, economic, spatial and health implications (Rondinelli, 1990; Cotton and Tayler, 1994; Opara, 2003; UN-HABITAT, 2006d; Coker et al., 2007; UNFPA, 2007). Hence, inadequate housing condition has become an intractable challenge that has continued to receive attention from governments and individuals in many developing countries.