‘Ensure No Devotee Falls Sick After Dip In Ganga’: NGT Diktat Ahead Of Maha Kumbh 2025

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed officials concerned to ensure that the pilgrims visiting the mela do not suffer and that no untreated sewage and solid waste is discharged in river Ganga and Yamuna.

In its 30-page order, the division bench of NGT has ordered compliance of eight major points. It has asked the Central and UP governments to comply with all these points. The green tribunal has said that devotees who come to Prayagraj to take a holy dip during the Maha Kumbh Mela should not have any problem regarding Ganga water. “There should be no adverse effect on the health of devotees after taking a holy dip in the Ganga,” it added.

The Kumbh Mela, which is expected to attract close to 500 million devotees from across the globe, will commence on January 14.

Take Samples Of Gangajal: NGT To CPCB

The NGT directed the Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board to take samples of Gangajal from different places around Sangam in Prayagraj at least two days a week and there should be no duplication of samples. The tribunal will issue necessary guidelines if the Gangajal is not found fit for drinking, bathing or sipping.

The Central and State Pollution Control Boards will also have to regularly upload the sample reports on their website.

NGT has also said that under post-fair management, garbage and other waste materials will have to be disposed of under environmental norms.

During the hearing, the UP government said that dirty water from drains and tanneries was not falling in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. “Only treated water is being released at the three places where a complaint was registered,” it said.

The tribunal has been hearing the petition of Allahabad High Court advocate Saurabh Tiwari and others who complained about the quality of water of river Ganga in Prayagraj. The matter was heard in the division bench of chairperson Prakash Srivastava and expert member Dr A Senthil Well.