Maha Kumbh 2025 | Ensure Pilgrims Don't Suffer, Prevent Sewage & Waste Discharge Into Ganga, Yamuna: NGT Directs UP PCB, CPCB

In a series of significant directions to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UP PCB) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the authorities to ensure that the pilgrims visiting the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 do not suffer and that no untreated sewage and solid waste is discharged in river Ganga and Yamuna.

This time around the 40-day Maha Kumbh Mela, which is expected to attract close to 500 million devotees from across the globe, will commence on January 14 with the Makar Sankranti 'snan' (holy bath). The mela will conclude on February 26 with the Mahashivratri snan.

The Tribunal has been hearing a plea moved by Varanasi-based Advocate Saurabh Tiwari, raising a grievance about the quality of water of river Ganga in Prayagraj and the allegation of discharge of untreated sewage through the drains in river Ganga and Yamuna concerning the Magh Mela and the forthcoming Kumbh Mela.

In its order date December 23, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel issued the following 8 directions to the authorities:

i) During the Maha Kumbh in order to have a better monitoring mechanism and to ensure that on account of the unwanted flow of untreated sewage in river Ganga and Yamuna, the pilgrims who come for holy bath may not suffer, the CPCB and UPPCB will increase their monitoring points and frequency of monitoring on river Ganga and Yamuna.

ii) The CPCB and UPPCB will take the water samples from river Ganga and Yamuna from the points atleast twice a week at regular intervals by avoiding duplicacy of sample on the same day and will display the sample analysis report on the website of UP PCB and CPCB. The report will also include performance of STPs and geotubes.

iii) Periodic samples will be collected by UP PCB and CPCB at the outlet of STPs and advanced oxidation ponds and the analytical reports be uploaded on website of PCB and CPCB. Apart from the above, the online monitoring data will also be uploaded.

iv) The sample analysis report will be sent by CPCB and UP PCB during the Mela fortnightly to the Registrar General of the Tribunal so that in case of need, the matter can be listed for consideration again.

v) The solid waste generated during the event will be managed as per the prescribed Rules relating to its management and disposal.

vi) It has been pointed out that the Magh Mela will continue from 12.01.2025 till 26.02.2025 for about 45 days and there will be six important bathing days. The regulatory agencies will strengthen the management system and be more prompt in ensuring the 30 compliance, especially during the days of increase footfall. The authorities will ensure that no untreated sewage and solid waste from any of the drains in Prayagraj is discharged in river Ganga and Yamuna. The UP PCB and CPCB shall ensure that the river water quality at all times is drinking water/bathing water quality.

vii) During the Maha Kumbh and after the Maha Kumbh is over, the authorities will take steps for effective disposal of the sludge generated in the STPs and deposited in geo-tubes by following the requisite environmental norms and for the same, performance report shall be filed.

viii) In addition to submitting the sample analysis report as directed in para (iv) above, the CPCB and UPPCB will submit comprehensive action taken report before the Registrar General of the Tribunal by 31.01.2025 and 28.02.2025 disclosing the status of compliance.

The tribunal issued the directions after persuing an affidavit filed by the UP Government disclosing the present status of the generation and treatment of sewage, the expected increase on account of influx during the Maha Kumbh Mela, the current status of flow in the drains and expected increase and the steps that have been taken to ensure the prevention of discharge of untreated sewage in river Ganga and Yamuna in District Prayagraj.

The State Government also apprised the bench that during the Maha Kumbh 2025 no drain in Prayagraj will discharge untreated sewage in river Ganga or Yamuna and that it will be ensured that the water quality does not go above 30 mg/l of BOD though the attempt would be aimed at maintaining the standard of 10 mg/l of BOD and fecal coliform to be 100 MPN/100 ml.

In prveiois hearing sin the matter, the Tribunal had empasied upon the health of crores of pilgrims visiting the Maha Kumbh fair. In September this year, a high-powered committee (HPC) was also formed by the Tribunal under the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and directed it to submit a report about the preventive measures.