Watering Down: On Water Quality in Prayagraj

Official estimates show that About 45 crore visitorsAbout one -third population of India is already for prayer Maha Kumbh MelaWhich began in mid -January. A small percentage of individuals carrying germs can trigger wide chains of disease transmission, with such large -scale influx. The Ganges, where devotees not only have ritual baths, but also drink water, essentially become a complex eclipse of microbiomes. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which is responsible for monitoring and control of air, water and land pollution, is assessing the water quality in Prayagraj since the onset of the festival. Its report, which are publicly accessible, presents a mixed picture. On January 14, which was Makar Sankranti, which was one of the most auspicious bath days, Stool coliform levelA major indicator of humans and animal waste was in a high -approximately 11,000 units at the Sangam Ghat, more than four times the permissible range of 2,500 units. At the old Naini Bridge Ghat, with Yamuna, counting was even more, in 33,000 units. However, in other days, the number decreased as 200 and 780 units. Similar ups and downs were observed for other parameters of water quality such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved oxygen (DO). A CPCB report submitted to the National Green Tribunal on 3 February stated that the water quality was not fit for bathing on January 12-13, 2025, despite drinking alone alone, despite having a high tolerance limit. However, the report mentions a decrease in organic pollution due to freshwater infiltration. It was further observed that during the Maha Kumbh Mela, the sheer number of people bathing in the river, especially on auspicious days, caused an indispensable spike in stool contamination.

These ups and downs are not exclusive to the Kumbh Mela. Regular monitoring of water quality by CPCB has consistently recorded similar patterns, strengthening the fact that the festival may be, not fit for water consumption in the Ganges, whether some drops or bucketful. The suitability of the river for bathing is water flow and ups and downs on the basis of weakening. Keeping these adverse conclusions in mind, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has dismissed this scientific figures as “baseless”. Clean Ganga is based on a continuous effort to restore the health of the National Mission River, and its largest beneficiary Uttar Pradesh should prioritize continuous cleaning efforts rather than reducing legitimate pollution concerns. The Kumbh Mela highlighted the immediate need for long -term solutions, not refusalism. Science may come to help loyalty; Reducing scientific findings in the name of encouraging spiritual journey is not in anyone’s interest.