Maha Kumbh 2025: NGT pulls up U.P. pollution board for inadequate info on high faecal coliform bacteria levels
An aerial view of devotees at Sangam amid the ongoing ‘Maha Kumbh Mela’ festival, in Prayagraj, Uttar Prades. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday pulled up the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for not submitting adequate information to the court, including on faecal coliform levels in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers at Prayagraj during the ongoing Maha Kumbh.
As per a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report submitted to the NGT earlier this month, there are high levels of faecal coliform — microbes from human and animal excreta — at the confluence of the rivers, in which millions are taking a holy dip.
Additional Advocate General Garima Prashad, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, told the NGT on Wednesday that the State government is not challenging the CPCB’s report, but is asking for the sampling points used by the central pollution regulator.
U.P. samples predate Kumbh
The NGT noted that the UPPCB’s report submitted to the court referred only to water samples collected till January 12, before the beginning of the Maha Kumbh.
On Thursday, the bench pulled up the UPPCB asking what sort of report they have filed, with no information on faecal coliform found in its 250 pages. Was the report filed with minimal details meant to waste the time of the tribunal, the bench asked.
The Principal Bench of the NGT, comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A. Senthil Vel, is hearing a plea about the quality of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers at Prayagraj.
‘Not bathing quality’
In its February 17 order, the NGT quoted the CPCB report: “River water quality was not conforming with the primary water quality for bathing w.r.t. Fecal Coliform (FC) at all the monitored locations on various occasions. Huge number of people taking bath at Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh Mela in river including auspicious bathing days which eventually leads to increase in fecal concentration.”
The UPPCB informed the court that it has the latest reports on water quality. The NGT directed the State pollution board to file the report within a week and listed the matter for February 28.
Published – February 19, 2025 10:57 pm IST
