NEW DELHI: At a time when many Indian scientific institutions are working to find or repurpose a drug to treat Covid-19 patients, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) — premier central body involved with river rejuvenation works — wants a pilot research project in upper regions of the Ganga as no “virus related studies” have, so far, been carried out in the river.
Underlining that the Ganga water has “special properties which is prominent in upper stretches”, the NMCG has written to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) seeking opinion of its experts for carrying out research on its “clinical effectiveness”.
It, however, in its letter to the ICMR, also noted views of the scientists of CSIR’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) who categorically told the NMCG that they “do not have proof that Ganga water or sediment has anti-viral properties”. The CSIR-NEERI had earlier carried a study on assessment of water quality and sediment to understand special properties of river Ganga under ‘Namami Gange’ programme.
Underlining that the Ganga water has “special properties which is prominent in upper stretches”, the NMCG has written to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) seeking opinion of its experts for carrying out research on its “clinical effectiveness”.
It, however, in its letter to the ICMR, also noted views of the scientists of CSIR’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) who categorically told the NMCG that they “do not have proof that Ganga water or sediment has anti-viral properties”. The CSIR-NEERI had earlier carried a study on assessment of water quality and sediment to understand special properties of river Ganga under ‘Namami Gange’ programme.
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