Maha Kumbh 2025: NGT criticizes U.P. Pollution Control Board for insufficient data on high faecal coliform bacteria levels

Maha Kumbh 2025 Faces Looming Crisis as NGT Blasts U.P. Pollution Control Over Contaminated River Waters

With less than a year remaining for the Maha Kumbh, the National Green Tribunal has delivered a stern rebuke to Uttar Pradesh pollution authorities over their failure to address dangerously high levels of fecal contamination in the sacred rivers. The shocking revelation comes as preparations intensify for what is expected to be the largest human gathering on Earth, with over 30 crore pilgrims anticipated to take the holy dip in the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.  

During a recent hearing, the green court expressed grave concerns about the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board's inadequate monitoring and incomplete data regarding fecal coliform bacteria levels - a key indicator of waterborne disease risks. Tribunal members questioned how authorities planned to ensure pilgrim safety when basic water quality standards weren't being properly monitored. Health experts warn that the current contamination levels could trigger mass outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses, skin infections, and other waterborne diseases among the bathing devotees.  

The criticism follows years of warnings from environmental activists about untreated sewage and industrial waste continuing to flow into the rivers despite the multi-crore Namami Gange cleanup initiative. Local conservation groups point to malfunctioning sewage treatment plants and inadequate infrastructure to handle the existing population, let alone the massive Kumbh influx. "The sacred rivers are being treated like open sewers," lamented one longtime river activist, noting that pollution levels routinely exceed safe limits even during non-festival periods.  

State officials have rushed to offer assurances, claiming additional treatment facilities will be operational before the event and that special measures are being implemented. However, the NGT has demanded a detailed action plan within 15 days, including real-time pollution monitoring and emergency remediation steps. The tribunal's intervention highlights the growing tension between India's spiritual traditions and environmental realities, with the eyes of the world soon to be focused on this ancient pilgrimage site.  

As the countdown to Maha Kumbh 2025 continues, the controversy raises fundamental questions about whether one of humanity's oldest religious practices can be sustained without compromising public health or ecological responsibility. For the millions planning their pilgrimage, the answers may determine not just the spiritual success of their journey, but their physical wellbeing as well.