The Hugli River, a cultural and ecological cornerstone of Kolkata, faces mounting anthropogenic stress from ritualistic practices, commercial activities, and poor waste infrastructure. This study presents a detailed physico-chemical assessment of water samples collected from Mayer Ghat, Mullick Ghat, Babughat, and Princep Ghat during the monsoon period of June-August 2025. Analysis of 18 water quality parameters revealed critically low Dissolved Oxygen levels, elevated Biochemical and Chemical Oxygen Demand, and high fecal coliform concentrations; signaling widespread organic and microbial contamination. Babughat exhibited the highest pollution load, while Mullick Ghat revealed dangerously excessive levels of chromium. Despite temporal stability across most indicators, significant reductions in turbidity and nitrate concentrations suggest episodic fluctuations. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted pollution mitigation and integrated riverfront management strategies to preserve the environmental and cultural integrity of Kolkata’s historic ghats.
R. K. Goswami (Sun,) studied this question.
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