After CPCB report on high faecal coliform level, CM Yogi Adityanath says Sangam water fit for snan, anchmann

“This time, 81 drains have been tapped, treating 261 MLD (million liters per day) of sewage. In January and February, faecal coliform levels at the Sangam nose were found to be within the acceptable range, below 2,500 MPN per 100 ml, according to the UP Pollution Control Board,” Adityanath said.

Stating that UP Pollution Control Board is constantly monitoring the water quality and ensuring that the water is fit for bathing as per the set norms – ie BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) less either 3 or less than 3, and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) at more than 5 — the chief minister said, “As per today’s (Wednesday) report from the Sangam point, the BOD level is below 3, and DO level is more than 8-9.”

“Yaani, Sangam ka jal snan karne layak bhi hai aur anchmann karne layak bhi hai (Which means that the water at Sangam is good enough to take bath as well as take the ritual sip),” Adityanath said.

He said that at some places, the level of faecal coliform might have been high because of various reasons but the levels at the Sangam nose are being maintained as per the set norms.

Training his guns at the Opposition Samajwadi Party, he said that the condition of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers was so poor during its rule that the Prime Minister of Mauritius refused to take a dip during the 2013 Kumbh.

Replying to questions raised by Congress and SP MLAs over the arrangements at Maha Kumbh where at least 30 people died in a stampede on January 29 on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, Adityanath said the Opposition was trying to “mislead people”, but the state’s BJP government was committed to making the event “historic and grand”.

“Sanatan Dharma is the soul of India, and it is our duty to uphold its dignity. The Opposition’s attempts to malign the Maha Kumbh with false narratives will not be tolerated,” he told the Assembly on the second day of the Budget Session.

“Right since the beginning of Maha Kumbh, the Opposition has been against it and is spreading baseless rumours,” said Adityanath and accused the Opposition parties of “distorting facts and calling the event a waste of money”.

“The Maha Kumbh is not a new event but a tradition rooted in Vedic scriptures such as the Rigveda, Atharvaveda, and Shrimad Bhagwat Purana. The Maha Kumbh is the soul of Indian culture and viewing it through a narrow political lens is inappropriate,” he said.

Referring to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath claimed that the former CM questioned the scale and expenditure of the Maha Kumbh. “Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge falsely claimed that thousands of people died in a stampede at the event. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee called it Mrityu Kumbh or Kumbh of Death. Jaya Bachchan of the Samajwadi Party said dead bodies were thrown into the Ganga, and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav dismissed the event as useless… These irresponsible statements from leaders of the Samajwadi Party, Congress, RJD, and TMC are a direct insult to Sanatan Dharma’s biggest event,” the chief minister said, adding “respecting Sanatan Dharma is every citizen’s duty”.

“While sick person can be treated, it is not possible to treat a sick mindset,” he added.

The chief minister reaffirmed that his “government had made every effort to make the Maha Kumbh a remarkable event,” and so far, over 56 crore devotees have taken the holy dip.

The attack by Opposition party leaders is not just an attack on Sanatan Dharma, but also on the faith of 56 crore devotees who have taken bath at the Maha Kumbh,” Adityanath said.

“Is it a crime to be a follower of Santan Dharma or organize events for the same? If it is, then our government is committing this crime and will continue to do so,” Adityanath said.

“Maha Kumbh is not just an event of any particular party or the government. It is a grand celebration of society and the role of the government is that of a mere facilitator, dedicated to fulfilling its responsibility with sincerity,” he said.

The government was making it historic and would not tolerate any negligence in its execution, he added.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav expressed concerns over the quality of water at the Sangam and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to conduct a thorough probe into the matter.

“Why did they hide the true state of the water? What are the parameters of the water quality? Where does this bacteria come from? Perhaps the chief minister doesn’t even know. If Adityanath knew, he wouldn’t have bathed in that water… It’s being reported that a large number of Kalpavasis fell sick. The illness they are experiencing seems to have developed after their dip in the river. I suggest the government conduct a thorough investigation into this matter,” he said.

The SP chief also expressed his concerns over the stampede, traffic jams, and the quality of water at the Sangam, which he claimed had led to health issues among devotees.

“No one is against the Maha Kumbh, but the government invited people to the event claiming to have made arrangements for 100 crore people. Then how did the stampede happen? How did the traffic jam occur? People were stuck in vehicles for hours. Devotees died in road accidents. This shows the complete mismanagement of the event,” he said.

With PTI Inputs