Narendra Modi led BJP government’s request to study the prospects of Gangajal (River Ganges water) turned downed by top Indian medical experts.
According to details, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has rejected the government’s proposal to conduct research on the prospects of Gangajal as a possible coronavirus treatment, terming it as a waste of time amid virus crisis.
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It is to be noted that an NGO named Atulya Ganga had written to government’s Ministry of Jal Shakti, requesting it to launch a study regarding the possibility of Gangajal’s use as coronavirus treatment. The NGO claims that the water of River Ganges contains a virus called ‘bacteriophage’, which has the ability to ‘eat’ harmful bacteria and hence can be used for coronavirus treatment.
“We had written a letter to the Prime Minister and the Jal Shakti Ministry in this context. After this, the Ministry of Jal Shakti requested the ICMR that if there is indeed some truth in this fact then further research should be conducted,” said Colonel (Retd.) Manoj Kishwar, a member of Atulya Ganga NGO.
Following the NGO’s letter, the Ministry of Jal Shakti had then requested ICMR on 30 April, asking it to commence clinical trials in this matter.
However, ICMR refused this request, stating that it is impractical and that the organization is currently focused on plasma treatment studies.
“As of now we are still treating plasma therapy as a trial for treatment for corona (Covid-19), then how can we so quickly accept a virus called bacteriophage, found in the water of Ganges, as a cure? Right now, there is no logic in the argument that the virus found in Ganga’s water can indeed fight the coronavirus disease,” said an ICMR official.
