NGT reports officials, Maha Kumbh's Ganga-Yamuna water not fit for bathing

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has, in its report, made the National Green Tribunal (NGT) aware of the reality of the fecal coliform content of water of rivers of varying points of the venue of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, being lower compared with water quality for bathing.

This submission becomes more important because the Maha Kumbh Mela has been underway and crores of devotees are throngs towards Prayagraj for a holy dip in the holy water of the Triveni Sangam. The devotees, who had been taking a dip in the Maha Kumbh from the 13th of January, had been more than 54.31 crores, according to the Mela administration. More than 1.35 crores of devotees had a dip in the holy water of the Triveni Sangam till 8 pm on Monday.

Fecal coliform is a marker of sewage pollution in water. The CPCB standards set the permissible limit at 2,500 units of faecal coliform in 100 ml of water. The NGT bench comprising chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal, and expert member A Senthil Vel is hearing a petition that aims to stop the release of sewage into the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Prayagraj.

In a report dated February 3, the CPCB informed the NGT bench about the poor river water quality in Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh Mela. The report has pointed out some non-compliances or violations. “The river water does not conform to the primary water quality for bathing. A large number of people bathe in the river in Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh Mela,” the CPCB said in its report.

The NGT bench noted that the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) had failed to comply with its earlier direction to file a comprehensive action taken report. The tribunal noted that the board had filed only a few water testing reports with a cover letter. “Even on reviewing the documents enclosed with the cover letter sent on January 28, 2025, it reflects that high levels of fecal and total coliform have been found at various locations,” the bench said.

The tribunal granted one day’s time to the state counsel to examine the report and file a reply. “The Member Secretary of UPPCB and the concerned State Authority responsible for maintaining the water quality of River Ganga at Prayagraj are directed to appear virtually at the next hearing, which is scheduled on February 19,” the tribunal said.