HIGH POLLUTION OF SANGAM WATER

Despite the success of Maha Kumbh, the largest ever religious gathering, controversies hit the headlines off and on. When, for a change, no untoward incident has lately come to notice, fresh debate has begun and rightly so over purity and potability of holy water at Sangam. When Rajya Sabha M.P. Jaya Bhaduri had stated that dead bodies were flown into Sangam and that water at this holy point had got contaminated, many individuals and institutions heard it but few probably believed it.

Faecal Bacteria Too Injurious

Devotees with their families are still rushing to Maha Kumbh even after National Green Tribunal (NGT), headed by Justice (Retd) Prakash Shrivastava has been informed that taking bath in Sangam water is injurious as it has high level of Faecal Bacteria(FB) and that primary water level was far from being maintained.

During the period 16 January and 29 January, BOD level had exceeded the prescribed limit with maximum being 5.09 mg. on January 16 and minimum being 3.26 mg. on January 29.All this was likely to lead to occurrence of several diseases.

Nowhere water is fit for bathing, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Further, as per Environmentalists and Doctors specializing in water born diseases, interviewed by media, Faecal Coliform Bacteria are found in the intestines of warm blooded animals and humans.They are commonly used as indicators of potential contamination in water.

In addition, they contain harmful Pathogens, such as, viruses, parasites or other Bacteria which originates from Faecal matter or stool. It can also lead to Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, skin rashes, eye irritation, Typhoid and Hepatitis A.

Biological Oxygen Demand

Apart from F.B. findings, CPCB has reported that Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) at Sangam was 3.94 milligrams per litre on 13 January when the festival began. Water now is UNSAFE for bathing as it exceeds the prescribed limit for BOD. A key parameter to determine water quality, BOD refers to amount of Oxygen needed by aerobic micro organisms to break down organic material in a water body.

While a higher BOD level indicates more organic content in water, river water is considered ‘fit’ for bathing if the BOD level is less than 3 milligrams per litre. Needless to say, CPCB report shows that Sangam water is CURRENTLY EXCEEDING the limit.

High bacterial presence in Sangam water can have grave consequences for public health.Both NGT and CPCB, therefore, should give proper guidelines for the remainder of Maha Kumbh.

The report filed by the CPCB before the NGT has to be considered as an eye opener. Such pollution, according to a leading national daily, needs to be addressed by Science.

Much more inputs were likely to be placed before the NGT during hearing on 19th February.

Even the SUPREME COURT has taken cognisance of the matter. It has been pleased to consider Sangam water as dirty and perverted.

Dismal Reporting By UPCB

The NGT has pulled up UP Pollution Control Board for not submitting adequate information and asked why data pertaining to pre-Kumbh period was submitted. It also asked the Board as to how people were taking bath in water having both human and animal excreta. U.P. Board, it is learnt, is playing it down. The Board has been asked by NGT to submit a detailed report on Kumbh water. Matter has been now posted for 28 February.

Looks the State Government too does not want people to know it.

Thus, it may be turning to be a very serious issue.

Opinion of Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh

The U.P. Chief Minister has declared Sangam water FIT for ritual drinking and not just bathing a few days after UPPCB was pulled up by the NGT for permitting thousands of people to bathe in severely polluted waters. C.M. has not spared the CPCB even for reporting presence of Faecal Coliform. To him, it is nothing but false propaganda to defame success of Maha Kumbh.

As per him, Sangam water was fit for drinking. State Pollution Control was regularly checking water to maintain its quality.

Sangam Water To Jails

On the other hand, instead of resolving the issue, publicity conscious U.P. Government is planning to messenger holy water to 68 District Jails and 7 Central Jails in the state to enable prisioners to bathe in the sacred water. This initiative is a brainchild of State Prison Minister, by which 800 inmates of Unnao Jail have already taken bath in Sangam water in view of spiritual reasons.

No End To Rush

It is sad to note that despite facing hardships and relatives being lost or missing, people are rushing to Maha Kumbh venue in large numbers. At least, they should believe the finding of scientific analysis and listen to the appeal made by the experts and doctors.

Health hazard at Sangam has to be controlled by any means. Unholy dip in water having high levels of BOD and Faecal coliform in the name of faith has to be stopped. Rather, it must come to an end.

Only a few days to go before conclusion of Maha Kumbh, devotees seem undeterred. What to talk of over stretched trains or road transport, they are rushing even by boats more than before. Sangam has witnessed dip by more than 60 crore devotees thus far.

One can conclude by quoting from a leading national English daily :

“Faithful have the right to bathe at Sangam, State has the responsibility to ensure that.”

(Alok K.Shrivastava is the former Chief Secretary of Sikkim. The views are personal)