Water pollution and Stampede were the jarring notes of Mahakumbh

Millions of people took holy dip during Mahakumbh which was held in Prayagraj after 12 years. There is a belief among Hindus that taking a dip at Sangam- the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati will cleanse them of sins and purify their souls but instead the sacred river in which scores of people bathed was found to be contaminated.

High levels of faecal coliform (microbes from human and animal excreta) were found in the river as per a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by Central Pollution Control Board. Faecal coliform, a marker of sewage contamination has a permissible limit of 2,500 units per 100 ml as per CPCB.

 “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. Huge number of people taking bath at Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh Mela in river including auspicious bathing days which eventually leads to increase in faecal concentration,” the report mentioned.

However, the Uttar Pradesh chief Minister Yogi Adityanath refuted concerns over the presence of faecal coliform in the river water and claimed that the water at Sangam Nose, the point where the Ganga meets the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati is not only fit for bathing but also for “aachman” (a holy dip in which devotees also sip the water).

He further mentioned that the water is released after purification. Pipes and drains in and around Sangam are taped and the State Pollution Control Board is checking the water to maintain its quality. The chief minister also alleged that it was a false campaign to defame the Mahakumbh.

On the other hand, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) faced the heat by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for not submitting adequate information on the river water quality to it. NGT noted that UPPCB’s report was about water samples collected till January 12, before the beginning of Mahakumbh. The court pulled up UPPCB for not providing information on the presence of faecal coliform. It further asked the Uttar Pradesh Government that whether it is challenging findings of the CPCB which comes under the centre.