Despite NGT and CPCB warning of highest levels of coliform and faecal bacterial contamination in Ganga waters in Prayagraj, rush of pilgrims continued unabatedly
Faith in spiritualism, Gods, and religious beliefs have been tremendous in India and Kumbhs always entice millions of pilgrims from around the country and the globe to pay their obeisance to pious Ganges worshipped as Ganga Maa from thousands of years. However, some say that superstition and religious beliefs in India have so badly engulfed the Indian population that till now more than fifty crore people have taken bath in the Prayagraj, Mahakumbh believed to be the arriving after 144 years, though this claim have been challenged by several learned and enlightened saints on television channels.
Taking a dip and bath in pious/ holy Ganges is not bad but when incidents of several stampedes have happened leading to several deaths and the rush not decreasing then it’s definitely a situation to worry about.
Trains are full , running beyond capacities with passengers travelling without tickets and without reservation even in the toilets and spaces meant to keep luggage. The entire Mahakumbh precincts are full of uncontrollable crowds with thousands of people defecating in the open on river banks, near railway stations and river Ghats etc.
There is unbearable smell of the human and animal excreta all around as being exhibited by various news and you tube channels.
The ultra rich and VVIPs n VIPs who are taking bath in pious Ganges or Triveni Sangam are being provided all facilities via big boats to take them in the middle of the pious Ganges to take the bath, but the moot point is : Are the commoners , the general public in millions allowed to go in the middle of the river to bath in clear and clean waters ?
There are reports of people unambiguously taking bath in water full of fecal bacterias , slippers, used clothes, under garments and even unhygienic materials with water giving a muddy look clearly of a highly contaminated dirty water not even suitable for anything except throwing it into the drains.
There have been several reports and even news on televisions of Prayagaraj Ganga water full of fecal bacterias not prone for bathing or doing “kullas” but millions of pilgrims from entire country are still jamming the railway stations, using the air travels and personal cars reaching Prayagaraj, walking 15 to 20 kilometres on foot and finally bathing in the Ganges full of fecal bacterias.
According to a Times of India report the Sangam waters where millions of devotees have been taking a holy dip every day during the ongoing Mahakumbh has been found to be badly contaminated with alarming levels of faecal and total coliform prompting National Green Tribunal to summon the Uttar Pradesh government authorities.
According to the TOI a quality assesment report submitted to NGT by Central Pollution Control Board on February 3 said the Coliform Levels – a key indicator of the presence of untreated human and animal excreta was found to be 1,400 times the standard in the Ganga and 600 times in the Yamuna and some stretches on a particular day, making the river water absolutely unfit for bathing.
The report says that according to the CPCB standards for organised outdoor bathing the total coliform levels must not exceed 500 MPN ( Most Probable Number) per 100 ML. However the CPCB by January 19 found the total coliform level reaching a whopping 700,000 MPN/100 ML in the Ganges termed as pious and 330,000 in the Yamuna. The high levels of the faecal bateria pose tremendous dangers of water borne diseases reveal the TOI report.
