A recent report by a joint committee established by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) highlighted alarming levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in the Ghaggar River, rendering it unfit for bathing.

• The river has been categorized under priority-I, indicating the highest level of pollution, with BOD levels exceeding 30 mg/l against the prescribed standard of 3 mg/l.
• Ghaggar River originates in the Shivalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh and flows through Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan before disappearing in the Thar Desert.
• The river is approximately 494 km long and has tributaries like Kaushalya, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri, and Chautang.
• It is often called a “dead river” due to its seasonal nature, relying on monsoon rains for flow.

Historically, it is believed to be part of the lost Saraswati River.