The central government informed Parliament on Monday that the Ganga's water at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj was deemed fit for bathing during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh, according to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Triveni Sangam is the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
The government further stated that a total of ₹7,421 crore had been allocated to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) over the financial years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 (up to March 9) for the river's cleaning and maintenance.
Responding to a query by Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadauria and Congress MP K Sudhakaran, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that as per the CPCB report, the median values of key water quality indicators—including pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and faecal coliform (FC)—remained within permissible limits for bathing at all monitored sites.
These parameters are critical in assessing water quality, with DO indicating oxygen availability in water, BOD measuring the oxygen required to break down organic matter, and FC serving as an indicator of sewage contamination.
Conflicting reports on water quality
Earlier, a CPCB report dated February 3 submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had indicated that water quality at several locations in Prayagraj did not meet the primary bathing standards due to high faecal coliform levels.
However, in a revised report dated February 28, the CPCB stated that statistical analysis of water quality data confirmed that the river water during the Maha Kumbh was indeed fit for bathing.
The report justified the statistical analysis by citing "data variability" in water samples collected from the same locations on different dates, as well as from different spots on the same day. This variation, the report noted, meant that individual samples did not accurately represent the "overall river water quality throughout the river stretch."
Compliance with NGT directives
In the case of "Kamlesh Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh & Others," the NGT had, on December 23, 2024, directed authorities to regularly monitor the water quality of the Ganga and Yamuna throughout the Maha Kumbh to ensure compliance with primary water quality standards.
Following this order, the CPCB conducted water quality monitoring at seven locations from Shringverpur Ghat (upstream of Prayagraj) to Deehaghat (downstream), including the Sangam nose, where the Ganga and Yamuna merge. The monitoring, conducted twice weekly, began on January 12 and included auspicious bathing (Amrit Snan) days.
The CPCB's initial report, submitted to the NGT on February 3, covered data collected between January 12 and 26, 2025. This report also included performance assessments of 10 sewage treatment plants (STPs) and seven geosynthetic dewatering tubes (geo-tubes) used for filtration in Prayagraj.
To enhance water quality data accuracy, the CPCB later increased its monitoring locations to 10 and began testing twice daily from February 21 onward.
Measures to maintain water quality
The Uttar Pradesh government implemented several measures to ensure clean water during the Maha Kumbh. These included the installation of 10 sewage treatment plants (STPs) to treat wastewater before discharge, along with seven geo-tubes to process wastewater from 21 untapped drains.
Additionally, three prefabricated temporary STPs with a total capacity of 500 kilolitres per day (KLD), along with three faecal sludge treatment plants handling 200 KLD, were set up in the mela area.
Advanced oxidation techniques were employed by the UP Jal Nigam to treat wastewater and prevent untreated water from contaminating the Ganga.
To accommodate the vast number of pilgrims, adequate toilets and urinals were installed across the mela area. Dustbins with liner bags were also strategically placed for efficient waste management.
