Pragyaraj, 20 February— Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath rebuked opposition parties for their criticism of the Maha Kumbh, accusing them of spreading “false narratives” to malign the event and disrespect Sanatan Dharma. “Such attempts will not be tolerated,” he told the state Assembly.
Defending the water quality at the Sangam in Prayagraj, Adityanath rejected reports of faecal contamination, asserting that the water was not only safe for bathing but also fit for drinking.
“The UP Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) are continuously monitoring the water quality,” he said, adding that the latest reports showed a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level of less than 3 and a dissolved oxygen level of 8-9, making the water suitable even for ritual sipping (‘aachman’).
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), however, expressed dissatisfaction with the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) over its failure to provide key data on pollution levels in the Ganga and Yamuna at Prayagraj.
A bench led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava criticized the compliance report for omitting crucial details, including faecal coliform levels, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The tribunal directed the UPPCB to submit a “comprehensive water quality report” within a week.
CPCB findings had earlier revealed that water at several locations did not meet primary bathing standards due to high faecal coliform levels—an indicator of sewage contamination.
The permissible limit is 2,500 MPN (most probable number) per 100 ml, but test results showed significantly higher levels.
Referring to past Maha Kumbh events, Adityanath criticized the previous Samajwadi Party government, recalling that river conditions were so poor in 2013 that the Prime Minister of Mauritius had refused to take a dip. He assured that all drains and pipelines near the Sangam had been sealed and that water was released only after purification.
“Questions are being raised about the water quality, but we are ensuring it remains clean and safe,” he said.
