By Tajdar H Zaidi
Lucknow: The water at the Sangam is now deemed safe for both bathing and ritual consumption (Bachman), as confirmed by recent reports. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made this announcement on Wednesday, amid concerns regarding potential high levels of fecal bacteria in the water.
Speaking in the state assembly, the Chief Minister assured that the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution Control Board are conducting regular assessments to monitor the water quality at the Sangam.
He also took a swipe at the opposition Samajwadi Party, blaming its tenure for the poor condition of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, which was so dire that even the Prime Minister of Mauritius refrained from taking a dip during the 2013 Kumbh Mela.
Highlighting improvements made under his leadership, Adityanath revealed that 81 drains have been effectively tapped, leading to the treatment of 261 MLD (million liters per day) of sewage. According to a report from the UP Pollution Control Board, in January and February, fecal coliform levels at the Sangam nose were found to be within the acceptable threshold of less than 2,500 MPN per 100 ml. The Central Pollution Control Board corroborated these findings in its independent study.
“Both the UP and Central Pollution Control Boards have been closely monitoring the water quality, and the latest reports confirm that the water at the Sangam is now fit for bathing as well as ritual consumption,” Adityanath reiterated before the state assembly.
Discussing the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025, the Chief Minister emphasized that it would be organized in a ‘grand’ and well-planned manner, unlike the 2013 edition, which he criticized for suffering from corruption, mismanagement, administrative negligence, and chaos under the Samajwadi Party’s rule.
He pointed out that despite the significant improvements and better facilities planned for the 2025 event, those responsible for the 2013 mismanagement are now raising unwarranted criticisms against the upcoming Maha Kumbh.
Adityanath further highlighted the unfortunate stampede at Prayagraj (then Allahabad) Station in 2013, during which the Samajwadi Party-led government chose to attack the then-Congress-led Centre instead of addressing its failures. He stated that during that period, the Uttar Pradesh government was not receiving adequate funds from the Centre, and whatever financial resources were allocated were marred by corruption, as pointed out in the 2014 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.
Comparing the scale and organization of the Kumbh Mela across different years, the Chief Minister explained that the duration of the event is determined based on religious calculations. The 2025 Maha Kumbh will last for 45 days, whereas the 2013 edition spanned 55 days.
He also highlighted the expansion of the Kumbh Mela area, which covered only 1,936 hectares (less than 5,000 acres) in 2013 but has now been expanded to over 10,000 acres for the 2025 event.
Infrastructure improvements were another key focus. In 2013, only 14 sectors were established within the Kumbh Mela grounds, whereas in 2025, this number has been increased to 25. The parking area has also been significantly enhanced, growing from 635 hectares in 2013 to 1,850 hectares in 2025, enabling accommodation for over 600,000 four-wheelers.
Adityanath further noted that in 2013, Prayagraj lacked permanent ghats, riverfronts, or Road Over Bridges (ROBs). However, by 2019, nine ROBs and six underpasses had been constructed. For the 2025 Maha Kumbh, even more infrastructure enhancements have been made, including 14 new flyovers, nine permanent ghats, and seven riverfront developments. Additionally, the length of temporary ghats has been extended from just 4 km in 2013 to an impressive 12 km in 2025.
With all these advancements, Adityanath affirmed that the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025 will be a landmark event, vastly superior in scale, facilities, and management compared to its predecessor in 2013.
