Sangam water fit for drinking: Yogi Adityanath rejects faecal bacteria report

UTTAR PRADESH, FEB 19 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the water quality at Prayagraj during the ongoing Maha Kumbh was fit to take a dip and perform aachman (drinking holy water) and slammed the opposition for spreading propaganda that it was unfit for bathing. The remark by Adityanath comes amid a row over a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report that found alarming levels of ‘faecal coliform’ bacteria in the Ganga in Prayagraj.

Speaking in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Adityanath said over 56.25 crore devotees have already taken a holy dip during the Maha Kumbh and several celebrities who have had a bath praised the arrangements.

“More than 56.25 crore devotees have already taken their holy dip in Prayagraj… When we make any baseless allegations or show fake videos against Sanatan Dharma, Maa Ganga, India or the Maha Kumbh, it is like playing with the faith of these 56 crore people,” the Chief Minister said.

Adityanath, citing Wednesday’s Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPCB) report, said the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) level was below 3 mg/litre and the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level in the Ganga had improved from 5 mg/litre to around 9 mg/litre.

Faecal coliform — a key indicator of sewage contamination — should be within 2,500 units per 100 ml, as per the CPCB.

The fiery BJP leader also attacked the opposition for attempting to malign the Maha Kumbh, happening after a gap of 144 years, referring to remarks by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee.

“The Samajwadi Party president asked what was the need to spend money on the Maha Kumbh. Lalu Yadav called the Kumbh ‘faltu’. Another partner of the SP said the Maha Kumbh had become the ‘Mrityu Kumbh’. If organising events related to the Sanatana Dharma is a crime, then our government will keep committing that crime,” he said.

On Tuesday, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opened a front against the UP government over the stampede during the Maha Kumbh last month, saying the spiritual gathering had turned into “Mrityu Kumbh”.

On January 29, a massive stampede broke out as devotees gathered to take a dip at the Sangam Nose on ‘Mauni Amavasya’, killing 30 people, over half of whom were women and children.

-PTI