Community-Based Participatory Assessment to Inform Pollution Mitigation and a Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) Framework at Brijghat (Garh Mukteshwar), Ganga River, India
Abstract
The river ghats of the Ganga basin are vital socio-ecological zones where intense religious and livelihood activities intersect with fragile riverine ecosystems. At pilgrimage sites like Brijghat (Garh Mukteshwar, Uttar Pradesh), this leads to localized pollution hotspots that degrade both ecological and cultural values. This study presents a community-based participatory assessment conducted through systematic field engagement in September 2024. It combines environmental observation, stakeholder dialogue, and an awareness campaign to diagnose key pollution sources, infrastructure gaps, and community perceptions regarding river health. Findings reveal significant accumulation of plastic and ritual waste, inadequate waste segregation facilities, and moderate levels of ecological awareness among visitors, coupled with a strong underlying willingness to engage in conservation. Critically, this pilot work directly informed the design of a structured bilingual (Hindi-English) KAP survey instrument for future quantitative research. The study concludes that academic-led, participatory diagnostics are a crucial first step in bridging national policy (Namami Gange) and local action. They build trust, generate site-specific insights, and create tailored tools for measuring and promoting behavioral change, forming a scalable, low-cost model for sustainable ghat management.
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Introduction
Rivers are the lifeline of India'secological, cultural, and economic systems. The Ganga River basin alone supports nearly 40% of the country'spopulation, providing water, sustaining agriculture, fisheries, and countless livelihoods (Alley, 2008; Kumar et al., 2019). However, rapid urbanization, increasing pilgrimage tourism, ritual practices, and inadequate waste management systems have severely strained the river'sassimilative capacity, negatively impacting water quality, biodiversity, and human health (Nath et al., 2023; Mishra et al., 2021). River ghats, which serve as critical socio-ecological interfaces, have become focal points for pollution accumulation due to unmanaged solid waste, ritual residues, floral offerings, and direct wastewater discharge (Dayal, 2016; Simon & Joshi, 2022).
Brijghat, located at Garh Mukteshwar, Uttar Pradesh, is a major site for religious and recreational activities on the Ganga, attracting large numbers of devotees year-round, especially during festivals and auspicious occasions (Patel et al., 2023). Activities such as ritual bathing, idol immersion, and religious gatherings, while central to community and spiritual identity, generate substantial non-biodegradable waste, organic matter, and nutrient loads, degrading water quality, sediment health, and the aesthetic value of the riverbank (Kumar et al., 2019; Singh et al., 2017).
The Government of India'sflagship Namami Gange Programme recognizes the need for an integrated approach encompassing infrastructure, regulation, and public participation (Nath et al., 2023). Evaluations suggest that technological and regulatory measures alone are insufficient without complementary behavioral change, environmental literacy, and community ownership at the local level (Singh & Sharma, 2018). In this context, Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) studies are valuable for gauging awareness, identifying perception gaps, and assessing readiness to adopt pro-environmental behaviors (Bharti et al., 2024; Kesherwani et al., 2022). However, effective KAP surveys require contextual grounding.
This study posits that a community-based participatory assessment is a vital prerequisite for designing effective, context-sensitive interventions and research tools. We conducted an academic-led field engagement at Brijghat, combining diagnostic observation, stakeholder interaction, and awareness activities. The primary objectives were to: (1) conduct a situational analysis of pollution sources and infrastructure gaps; (2) explore community perceptions and behaviors through direct dialogue; and (3) utilize these insights to develop a pilot KAP survey instrument for future quantitative research. This approach aims to bridge the policy-practice gap for the Ganga, translating national mission goals into localized, actionable strategies.
Conclusion
This community-based participatory assessment at Brijghat provides a granular understanding of pollution drivers and community dynamics, successfully informing the creation of a context-specific KAP research tool. It confirms that local communities hold a strong reverence for the Ganga and a latent willingness to act, which can be mobilized through respectful engagement and improved systems.
We recommend a multi-stakeholder action plan for Brijghat: 1. Immediate Infrastructure: Install and maintain clearly labeled, robust bins for waste segregation (biodegradable ritual offerings, plastics, other waste) at key inflow points on the ghat. 2. Community-Led Initiatives: Local administration and NGOs should promote the use of certified biodegradable materials for rituals and organize regular "ghat cleanliness drives" co-led by community groups and student volunteers. 3. Leverage the KAP Tool: The developed questionnaire should be used by researchers or local agencies to conduct a baseline survey, the results of which can design targeted awareness campaigns. 4. Strengthen Institutional Partnership: Formalize collaboration between academic institutions (like Teerthanker Mahaveer University), the local municipality, and the District Ganga Committee to enable continuous monitoring, innovation, and youth engagement.
The proposed model—participatory diagnosis leading to tailored tool development and concrete local recommendations—is scalable, low-cost, and replicable across the numerous ghats of the Ganga basin and beyond, offering a practical pathway to translate the vision of a clean Ganga into on-ground reality.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest.
