The Ganges river is utilized by the Indian citizens in a variety of ways ranging from religious purposes to daily activities. In my opinion, the locals' use of the river do not cause major consequences to the river as compared to the industries use of the river. Yes locals contribute to the pollution of the river, but the amount of pollution can be somewhat balanced by nature. But once you factor in industries, the large amounts of toxins dumped into the river by them cannot be balanced.
Usage of Ganges