Maha Kumbh Ganga Water Purity Row: UP Government Backs Scientist’s Findings Against CPCB Data

The Uttar Pradesh government has issued a statement addressing concerns over the purity of the Ganga river at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

The release, quoting a scientist, asserted that the river water remains as pure "as alkaline water", countering Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data that had raised doubts about its quality, reported The Hindu.

According to figures provided by the state government, over 58 crore people have taken a dip in the sacred waters of Triveni Sangam—the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati—since the start of the Maha Kumbh on 13 January.

The government's statement stated that Padma Shri awardee scientist Dr Ajay Kumar Sonkar collected water samples from five major bathing ghats, including Sangam Nose and Arail in Maha Kumbh Nagar.

The samples were then subjected to microscopic examination in his laboratory, which, according to the release, showed no bacterial growth or decline in the water's pH level, despite the massive number of devotees bathing in the river.

The release further stated that Dr Sonkar’s research identified 1,100 types of bacteriophages—natural viruses that eliminate harmful bacteria—contributing to what was described as the river's self-purifying mechanism.

"This self-purifying mechanism ensures that the river remains uncontaminated even after 57 crore devotees have taken a dip," the release stated, reported The Hindu.

The controversy over the quality of water started days after a CPCB report suggested that the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of river water at Sangam was 3.94 milligrams per litre on 13 January, when the Maha Kumbh started.

The CPCB’s water quality monitoring, however, suggested fluctuations in the river’s biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels.

The report recorded a BOD of 3.94 mg per litre on 13 January, which initially improved to 2.28 mg per litre on Makar Sankranti (14 January) and further dropped to 1 mg per litre on 15 January.

However, it later rose to 4.08 mg per litre on 24 January and stood at 3.26 mg per litre on Mauni Amavasya (29 January).

BOD is a key indicator of water quality, representing the oxygen required by microorganisms to break down organic matter.

A BOD level of under 3 mg per litre is considered fit for bathing, but on certain dates, the Sangam waters reportedly exceeded this threshold, with 5.09 mg per litre recorded on 16 January and 5.29 mg per litre on 19 January.

Despite the CPCB findings, the UP government release dismissed concerns, stating that Dr Sonkar confirmed that the river’s pH level remained between 8.4 and 8.6, which was "better than normal", with no foul smell or harmful bacterial growth detected even after 14 hours of incubation.

Furthermore, the release stated that Dr Sonkar has challenged sceptics to conduct their own sample testing, stating that if Ganga water were indeed polluted, it would have led to a global outcry and overwhelming cases of illness among pilgrims.

However, Professor Venkatesh Dutta, head of the Department of Environmental Science at Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), took a more measured stance, noting that Ganga is a flowing river and the timing and method of sampling significantly impact water quality assessments.

"I wouldn't be able to hazard a guess any which way on the quality of the Ganga water as of now. All that I can say is type; time of sampling also matters a lot," he told news agency PTI.

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