Mains: GS III – Environment pollution and degradation
Why in News?
Recently, the Bioremediation process has gained attention and importance due to ever increasing pollutions in many waterbodies in India.
What is bioremediation?
Bioremediation – It literally means “restoring life through biology.”
It harnesses microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae and plants to sequester or transform toxic substances such as oil, pesticides, plastics, or heavy metals.
These organisms metabolise these pollutants as food, breaking them down into harmless by-products such as water, carbon dioxide, or organic acids.
In some cases, they can convert toxic metals into less dangerous forms that no longer leach into the soil or groundwater.
Types – There are two broad types:
In situ bioremediation, where treatment happens directly at the contaminated site — think oil-eating bacteria sprayed on an ocean spill.
Ex situ bioremediation, where contaminated soil or water is removed, treated in a controlled facility, and returned once cleaned.
Modern bioremediation combines traditional microbiology with cutting-edge biotechnology.
First, new biotechnologies are enabling humans to gain unprecedented insight into biology, allowing them to identify biomolecules with useful characteristics.
Second, these technologies allow humans to replicate these biomolecules under desired conditions of use, such as sewage plants or agricultural lands.
For example, genetically modified (GM) microbes are designed to degrade tough chemicals like plastics or oil residues that natural species struggle with.
Biosensing – Synthetic biology also allows for “biosensing”, organisms that change colour or fluorescence when they detect toxins, providing early warnings of contamination.
Why does India need bioremediation?
Heavy industrialization in India – India’s rapid industrialisation has come at a heavy environmental cost.
Although pollution has been reducing, rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna receive untreated sewage and industrial effluents daily.
Oil leaks, pesticide residues, and heavy-metal contamination threaten both ecosystems and public health.
Issues with traditional methods – Traditional clean-up technologies are expensive, energy-intensive, and often create secondary pollution.
Potential of Bioremediation – It offers a cheaper, scalable, and sustainable alternative, especially in a country where vast stretches of land and water are affected but resources for remediation are limited.
Advantage of India’s diverse biodiversity – Indigenous microbes adapted to local conditions, such as high temperatures, salinity, or acidity, can outperform imported strains in environmental recovery.
Where does India stand today?
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) – It has supported several projects through its Clean Technology Programme, encouraging partnerships between universities, public research institutions, and industries.
CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute – It has a mandate to propose and implement programmes related to bioremediation.
IITs – Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology have experimented with a nanocomposite material synthesised from cotton that can be used to mop up oil spills and others have identified bacteria that can consume toxic pollutants in soils.
Startups – Firms like Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL) and Econirmal Biotech offer microbial formulations for soil and wastewater treatment.
Challenges – Widespread adoption faces several challenges
Technical ones such as a lack of site-specific knowledge and the complex nature of pollutants, and
Regulatory ones such as a lack of unified bioremediation standards.
What are other countries doing?
Japan – It integrates microbial and plant-based cleanup systems into its urban waste strategy.
The European Union – It funds cross-country projects that use microbes to tackle oil spills and restore mining sites.
China – It has made bioremediation a priority under its soil pollution control framework, using genetically improved bacteria to restore industrial wastelands.
What are the opportunities and risks?
Ecology restoration– Bioremediation can help restore rivers, reclaim land, and clean industrial sites, while creating jobs in biotechnology, environmental consulting, and waste management.
Integration of schemes – It can also integrate with the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission, Namami Gange, and other green technology initiatives.
Concerns with GMOs – The introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into open environments need to be strictly monitored to prevent unintended ecological effects.
Lack of monitoring – Inadequate testing or poor containment or monitoring can create fresh problems while solving old ones.
What needs to be done?
National standards– There is a need to develop national standards for bioremediation protocols and microbial applications.
India will need new biosafety guidelines, certification systems, and trained personnel to scale this technology responsibly.
Building regional bioremediation hubs – Linking universities, industries, and local governments would enable better understanding of local issues and identifying appropriate technologies for their resolution.
This can be implemented through support for local startups and community projects through the DBT–BIRAC ecosystem.
Public engagement – It would raise awareness that microbes can be allies, not threats, in environmental restoration
