- UP CM dismisses Kumbh Mela water contamination report
- Water samples show high bacteria levels
- 565m bathe in rivers despite contamination fears
The chief minister of India’s Uttar Pradesh state, Yogi Adityanath, has dismissed a government report revealing high levels of contamination at a key bathing site at the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest gathering. The report, submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), found alarming levels of untreated sewage and bacteria from human and animal excreta in the waters at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in Prayagraj city.
Despite the findings, Chief Minister Adityanath insisted that the water is not only fit for bathing but also safe for doing aachman, the Hindu ritual of drinking a handful of water after bathing. “All the pipes and the drains in and around Sangam have been taped and the water is being released only after purification,” he said.
The Kumbh Mela, held once every 12 years, attracts tens of millions of devotees from around the world. Hindus believe that taking a dip at Sangam will cleanse them of sins, purify their soul, and help them attain salvation. However, health activists and environmentalists have expressed concerns over the water quality of the rivers during the festival.
The CPCB report stated that the coliform levels in the Ganges were 1,400 times more than the acceptable limit, and in the Yamuna river, they were 660 times more. The report analyzed water samples from both rivers on five separate days in January, but the coliform levels never met standards.
Chief Minister Adityanath accused the opposition of running a “false campaign” to defame the Kumbh Mela. This is not the first time the Uttar Pradesh government has faced scrutiny for its management of the festival. On one of the most auspicious bathing days in January, at least 30 people died in a crush near the Sangam, and another 18 people died in a crush at the New Delhi Railway Station on Sunday.
The festival, which began on January 13, will end on February 26. Authorities say 565 million people have bathed in the rivers since the festival began.
