Ganga Water Quality Remained Within Safe Limits During and After Maha Kumbh 2025: Jal Shakti Ministry

The water quality of the Ganga river in Prayagraj remained within the permissible limits for primary bathing standards throughout the Maha Kumbh 2025, the Ministry of Jal Shakti informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said that monitoring at eight key locations by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — including Shringverpur Ghat, Sangam, and Deeha Ghat — showed that critical parameters like pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), and Faecal Coliform (FC) remained within acceptable limits throughout the religious gathering.

The monitoring period spanned from January 12 to February 20, 2025, covering the major Amrit Snan days and surrounding dates. Initially conducted at five sites, the number of monitoring locations was increased to eight midway through the period to ensure broader coverage.

Effective Sanitation and Wastewater Measures Credited

The ministry attributed the positive results to robust sanitation and wastewater management systems implemented during the Mela. The Prayagraj Mela Authority rolled out a comprehensive sanitation plan that included:

• 250 km of temporary drainage systems

• Bioremediation ponds

• Temporary sewage and faecal sludge treatment plants

After the event, these temporary systems were dismantled, disinfected, and stored for reuse in future large-scale gatherings, Choudhary added.

Namami Gange Programme Update

The ministry also provided an update on the broader Namami Gange Programme, stating that:

• 502 projects have been sanctioned

• 323 projects have been completed

• 150 are under implementation, and

• 29 are in the tendering stage

A third-party appraisal by the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) found that the programme has delivered substantial progress in pollution reduction, improvement in river flow, and community engagement, the minister said.