Ganga Water At Prayagraj’s Triveni Sangam Fit For Bathing During Maha Kumbh: Government

Ganga water at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj was fit for bathing during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh, according to a new report from the Central Pollution Control Board cited by the central government in Parliament on Monday. Triveni Sangam is the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.

The government further stated that a total of Rs 7,421 crore had been allocated to the National Mission for Clean Ganga, or NMCG, for river cleaning efforts in 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 (until March 9).

Responding to a query from Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadauria and Congress MP K. Sudhakaran, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that CPCB's findings showed the median values of pH, dissolved oxygen or DO, biochemical oxygen demand or BOD, and faecal coliform at all monitored locations remained within permissible limits for bathing.

DO refers to the amount of oxygen in water, BOD measures the oxygen needed to break down organic matter and FC is an indicator of sewage contamination. These are key indicators of water quality.

In a report dated Feb. 3, the CPCB had informed the National Green Tribunal that water at several locations in Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh did not meet the primary bathing water quality standard due to high faecal coliform levels.

However, in a new report submitted to the tribunal on Feb. 28, the CPCB said statistical analysis showed that the water quality during the Maha Kumbh was fit for bathing.

The report said that the statistical 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 did not fully reflect the 'overall river water quality throughout the river stretch,' it said.

In the case of 'Kamlesh Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh & Others,' the NGT had on Dec. 23, 2024, directed that water quality monitoring of the Ganga and Yamuna should be conducted regularly at frequent intervals during the Maha Kumbh to ensure compliance with primary water quality criteria.

Yadav said that in response to this order, the CPCB carried out water quality monitoring at seven locations twice a week, from Shringverpur Ghat (upstream of Prayagraj) to Deehaghat (downstream), including at Sangam nose (where the Ganga and the Yamuna meet). Monitoring began on January 12 and covered auspicious bathing (Amrit Snan) days.

The CPCB submitted its initial monitoring report to the NGT on Feb. 3, which included water quality data collected between Jan. 12 and 26, 2025. The report also included monitoring data from 10 sewage treatment plants (STPs) installed in Prayagraj and seven geosynthetic dewatering tubes (geo-tubes) used for filtration, Yadav said.

Later, the CPCB increased the number of monitoring locations to 10 and began testing twice daily from Feb. 21 to improve water quality data availability.

The minister said the Uttar Pradesh government installed 10 STPs for the Maha Kumbh to treat wastewater, ensuring that effluents met environmental standards before being released. Also, seven geo-tubes were installed as a temporary solution to treat wastewater from 21 untapped drains.

Three prefabricated temporary STPs, each with a capacity of 500 kilolitres per day (KLD) and three faecal sludge treatment plants with a total capacity of 200 KLD were installed in the mela area.

Yadav said the UP Jal Nigam used advanced oxidation techniques to treat wastewater and prevent untreated water from entering the Ganga.

A sufficient number of toilets and urinals were set up across the mela area to accommodate the large number of pilgrims. Dustbins with liner bags were also placed strategically for waste disposal, he said.

(With inputs from PTI)