On Monday, the central government referenced a new report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in Parliament, stating that the water at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where the Ganga meets the Yamuna and Saraswati rivers, was suitable for bathing during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh.
The government also mentioned that it had allocated a total of Rs 7,421 crore to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) for the Ganga river cleaning project in 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 (up until March 9). In response to inquiries from Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadauria and Congress MP K Sudhakaran, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that the CPCB report indicated that the median levels of pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and faecal coliform (FC) at all monitored locations were within permissible limits for bathing.
DO measures the amount of oxygen in water, BOD indicates the oxygen needed to break down organic matter, and FC is a key marker of sewage contamination. These are crucial indicators of water quality. A CPCB report dated February 3 had informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that water at multiple locations in Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh did not meet primary bathing water quality standards due to high levels of faecal coliform. However, in a follow-up report submitted on February 28, the CPCB conducted a statistical analysis, which showed that the water quality during the Maha Kumbh was indeed fit for bathing. The report explained that the analysis was necessary due to the “variability of data” in samples collected from the same locations on different dates, and even from different spots on the same day. This variability meant the samples didn’t fully capture the “overall river water quality throughout the river stretch.”
In the “Kamlesh Singh vs State of Uttar Pradesh & Others” case, the NGT had directed on December 23, 2024, that water quality monitoring of the Ganga and Yamuna should be conducted frequently during the Maha Kumbh to ensure compliance with primary water quality standards. In response, the CPCB monitored water quality at seven locations twice a week from January 12, covering the stretch from Shringverpur Ghat (upstream of Prayagraj) to Deehaghat (downstream), including at the Sangam (where the Ganga and Yamuna meet). Monitoring was conducted on days of special significance, such as Amrit Snan.
The CPCB submitted its initial monitoring report to the NGT on February 3, based on water quality data collected from January 12 to 26, 2025. This report also included data from 10 sewage treatment plants (STPs) installed in Prayagraj and seven geosynthetic dewatering tubes (geo-tubes) used for filtration. The CPCB later increased the number of monitoring locations to 10 and began testing twice daily from February 21 to enhance data availability.
The minister noted that the Uttar Pradesh government had set up 10 STPs for the Maha Kumbh to treat wastewater, ensuring that effluents met environmental standards before being released. Additionally, seven geo-tubes were installed to treat wastewater from 21 untreated drains. Temporary prefabricated STPs, with a capacity of 500 kilolitres per day (KLD) each, and three faecal sludge treatment plants with a combined capacity of 200 KLD, were also installed in the mela area.
Yadav added that the UP Jal Nigam employed advanced oxidation techniques to treat wastewater and prevent untreated water from entering the Ganga. Furthermore, a sufficient number of toilets and urinals were set up throughout the mela area to accommodate the large number of pilgrims, and strategically placed dustbins with liner bags were used for waste disposal.
