The National Green Tribunal was informed via a report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that several locations in Prayagraj, during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, did not meet the required water quality standards for bathing due to high levels of faecal coliform.
The CPCB report stated that the permissible limit for faecal coliform, a marker of sewage contamination, is 2,500 units per 100 ml. However, this limit was exceeded at several locations along the river.
A bench of the NGT, consisting of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal, and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, heard the matter concerning sewage discharge into the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Prayagraj. The tribunal also noted that the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) had failed to comply with its directive to submit a detailed action-taken report. Instead, the UPPCB only provided a cover letter along with some water test results.
NGT, through its earlier order dated December 23, 2024, had directed regulatory agencies to ensure no untreated sewage and solid waste from any of the drains in Prayagraj is discharged into the two rivers.
CPCB Report
According to the CPCB’s report, the water quality at several monitoring sites was found to be sub-standard during inspections on January 12 and subsequently on January 23, 2025.
The CPCB report noted, “The river water quality was not conforming to the primary water quality for bathing with respect to faecal coliform (FC) at all the monitored locations on various occasions. A large number of people bathe in the river at Prayagraj during the Maha Kkumbh Mela, including on auspicious bathing days, which eventually leads to an increase in faecal concentration,”
The report stated that, especially on the auspicious bathing days, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels were found to be higher than the normal standard of three milligrams (mg) per litre at multiple locations. A high BOD indicates a high level of pollution, as microorganisms require more oxygen to decompose the organic waste in the water.
The data included readings from significant sites such as the Shringverpur Ghat, Lord Curzon Bridge, Shastri Bridge, Nagvasuki Temple Pontoon Bridge, Sangam, Deha Ghat, and the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna near the Old Naini Bridge.
Faecal Coliform Bacteria
Coliforms are bacteria that live in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and humans. Faecal coliform bacteria, in particular, are associated with human or animal waste. They are commonly used as indicators of potential water contamination, as their presence suggests that the water may also harbour harmful pathogens, such as viruses, parasites, or other bacteria, which originate from faecal matter or stool excreted by animals and humans.
Faecal coliforms are frequently tested for during water quality assessments to determine whether water is safe for drinking, swimming, or other recreational activities.
What Are Safe Levels?
According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), The strength of faecal matter in sewage is monitored by coliform counts, a water quality parameter that acts as an indicator of pathogens that most commonly cause diarrhoea, as well as typhoid and a whole host of enteric diseases.
A 2004 committee formed by the Ministry of Urban Development recommended that the desirable limit of faecal coliform should be at 500 MPN/100ml and said that the maximum permissible limit should be capped at 2,500 MPN/100ml for discharge into the river. MPN/100ml denotes the most probable number per 100 millilitre of water sample.
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s CPCB, in its Maha Kumbh 2025 dashboard on the water quality at the various spots along the Ganga and the Yamuna also notes that the faecal coliform in the water should be less than or equal to 2,500 MPN/100ml.
The CPCB reported Faecal Coliform levels in the Ganga at 11,000 MPN/100ml near Shastri Bridge and 7,900 MPN/100ml at Sangam. In the Yamuna, before its confluence with the Ganga at Sangam, the reading was 4,900 MPN/100ml.
Health Hazards
Faecal coliform pollution, caused by the presence of faecal coliform bacteria, presents significant health risks. These bacteria can lead to various health issues, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and more serious infections. Infections such as typhoid, hepatitis, ear infections, and gastroenteritis can also result from exposure to these bacteria.
Bathing in contaminated water can expose you to health issues such as fever, nausea, or stomach cramps. This occurs when pathogens enter the body through the mouth, nose, or ears. Therefore, it is essential to raise awareness among bathers about the potential dangers of contaminated water.
Continuous exposure to faecal bacteria can lead to infections affecting the skin, digestive system, and even respiratory health, making it a serious health concern.