Fri Feb 21 03:47:31 UTC 2025: ## Ganga Water Purity Debated Amidst Maha Kumbh

**Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, February 21, 2025** – The purity of the Ganga River during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is the subject of ongoing debate. While the Uttar Pradesh government claims the water remains remarkably pure, even after over 58 crore devotees have bathed in it, reports from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) suggest otherwise.

The government cited research by Padma Shri Dr. Ajay Kumar Sonkar, who found no bacterial growth and a consistently alkaline pH level (8.4-8.6) in water samples collected from several bathing ghats. Dr. Sonkar attributes this to the presence of 1,100 types of bacteriophages in the Ganga water, which naturally eliminate harmful bacteria. He challenged critics to independently verify his findings.

However, the CPCB reported fluctuating levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD), a measure of organic matter in the water. While BOD levels improved initially, they later rose above the bathing standard of 3 milligrams per litre. A February 3rd report submitted to the National Green Tribunal stated that the water did not meet bathing standards at most locations during initial monitoring.

Professor Venkatesh Dutta of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University cautioned that water quality is dynamic and depends on several factors, including the time and location of sampling. The controversy highlights the complexities of assessing water quality in a highly dynamic environment like the Maha Kumbh, where millions of people gather. The debate continues as to whether the Ganga’s self-purification mechanisms are sufficient to handle such a massive influx of people.

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