Is the water at the Sangam Nose, where Ganges meets Yamuna and mythical Saraswati fit for drinking, as claimed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditanath?
After he dismissed reports of the presence of faecal bacteria in the river water, questions have been raised on the pollution of water at Prayagraj where crores of people had taken a holy dip.
NGT Pulls Up UPPCB
The controversy escalated further after National Green Tribunal (NGT) criticised the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for not submitting adequate information to the court, including on faecal coliform levels.
Earlier in a report, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), indicated the presence of high levels of faecal bacteria in Sangam water.
The controversy over the quality of water at the Sangam began with the UPPCB claiming in an affidavit that the quality of water at Ganga and Yamuna, is normal.
Pulling the UPPCB for collecting the water samples as early as January 12, the NGT asked, “Why have you filed such a huge document then? To waste our time?”
UPPCB: Will Submit Report
The Additional Advocate General appeared for the UPPCB and said that the board has the recent water samples and it will produce the report within a week, along with an action-taken report.
He also claimed that the water samples have been taken at the regular intervals and corrected measures too have been taken.
What Has CPCB Said In Its Report?
However, the CPCB said in its report that the water quality at different places of the river in Prayagraj during the ongoing Maha Kumbh did not meet the primary standards for bathing as it contained high levels of faecal coliform, a key indicator of sewage contamination.
It also said in its report that the water quality failed to meet primary bathing standards because of the presence of faecal coliform (FC) at all monitored locations on multiple occasions.
Yogi Adityanath: Water Fit To Drink
However, UP CM Yogi Adityanath called it a propaganda by the Opposition. He went to the extend of claiming that the water during the ongoing Maha Kumbh was fit to take a dip and perform aachman (drinking holy water).
Meanwhile, the UP Information Department has claimd that with over 30.94 lakh devotees taking the holy dip on Wednesday till 8 am, the total number of people taking the holy dip in the river at Maha Kumbh 2025 has crossed the figure of 55 crore.
