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.