Bioremediation of the Hindon River (Ghaziabad, India): A Review of Pollution Status, Remediation Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions

Abstract

The Hindon River, flowing through Ghaziabad, India, faces severe pollution mainly due to untreated municipal sewage, industrial effluents, and solid waste dumping. This pollution results in increased levels of organic pollutants, heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, and Ni, and pathogenic contamination, making the river water unfit for domestic, agricultural, and other uses. Conventional physico-chemical remediation methods, such as chemical precipitation or dredging, are often expensive, generate secondary pollutants, and do not offer a sustainable, long-term solution. In this context, sustainable and eco-friendly remediation approaches are urgently needed to restore the river's ecological health. Bioremediation, which harnesses the metabolic activities of microorganisms and plants to degrade or remove contaminants, emerges as a promising method due to its cost-effectiveness, environmental compatibility, and potential for complete degradation of pollutants. This review comprehensively discusses the pollution status of the Hindon River, bioremediation techniques applicable to its restoration, government initiatives, challenges faced, and integrated strategies for sustainable river cleanup.