A controversy has erupted over the water quality at Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj, amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently criticized the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for submitting old water samples from January 12, before the commencement of the festival, and claiming that the water is not polluted.
#### CPCB Report: Water Quality Not Up to Bathing Standards
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) submitted a report to the NGT on Monday, stating that the water quality at Sangam is not up to bathing standards. The report, dated February 3, revealed that faecal coliform levels at the locations where devotees are taking a holy dip were above the permissible limit of 2,500 units per 100 ml. This warning was issued to make people aware of the potential health consequences of being exposed to such high levels of bacteria.
#### UPPCB’s Defense and NGT’s Response
The UPPCB defended the water quality, claiming that the Ganga and Yamuna rivers met the required standards for bathing, except at one bridge. However, the NGT responded by pointing out that the samples submitted were taken before the commencement of the Maha Kumbh Mela. The tribunal questioned the validity of the report, stating, “What sort of report is this? There is no information on faecal coliform in these 250 pages.”
The NGT has directed the submission of another water sample for testing within a week, along with an action-taken report. The tribunal emphasized that “pollution at any point in the river is pollution.”
#### Government’s Stance and Future Actions
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has denied the findings of the CPCB report and maintained that the river water quality is good. They suggested that the narrative might be a propaganda tool aimed at tarnishing the image of the holy festival.
The CPCB’s February 17 order stated, “River water quality was not conforming with the primary water quality for bathing with respect to faecal coliform (FC) at all the monitored locations on various occasions. A huge number of people taking bath at Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh Mela in the river, including auspicious bathing days, which eventually leads to an increase in faecal concentration.”
The NGT has granted the state government a week to place on record the latest water quality analysis reports from different points of the river at the Maha Kumbh Mela site in Prayagraj. The tribunal aims to ensure better monitoring and prevent the unwanted flow of untreated sewage into the Ganga and Yamuna rivers during the festival.
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