The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed concerns over the health of crores of people who will visit the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. It said that if sewage is not stopped from entering the Ganga, it could harm the health of the pilgrims.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is a big religious event that brings millions of devotees from all over the world. It will start on January 14 with the holy bath on Makar Sankranti and end on February 26 with another holy bath on Mahashivratri.

Sewage pollution in the Ganges

A complaint to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said that 50 drains are pouring sewage directly into an 8-kilometre part of the Ganga River, from Rasulabad to the Sangam. The Sangam is the holy place where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers meet. This pollution could harm the safety and health of the pilgrims visiting the fair.

In September, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) created a special committee, led by the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary, to solve this problem. The committee was told to give a report by November 23. However, during a hearing on November 29, NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said that the committee had not submitted the report.

“The HPC has filed no such report, nor has any written request been received from it expressing any difficulty in filing the report or seeking an extension of time,” Justice Shrivastava noted.

Delays and miscommunication

The tribunal mentioned there was a mistake in the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary's letter dated November 28. The letter, which asked for more time to submit the report, had a typing error.

“Even if we accept such a submission, we find that though the order was passed by the tribunal on September 23, 2024, yet it appears that till November 7, no effective action was taken by the HPC,” the tribunal observed.

The tribunal stressed that the issue is urgent. It said that stopping untreated sewage from going into the Ganga must be done quickly before the Kumbh Mela begins.

Concerns over pilgrims' health

The bench underlined that the health of millions of pilgrims could be at risk if immediate action is not taken. “Hundreds of persons will be visiting the mela, and their health and well-being will be affected if no effective steps are taken to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage in the river,” the tribunal stated.

The NGT expressed dissatisfaction with the government counsel’s request for an additional 15 days to file the report. The bench questioned the delay, especially when the report was said to have already been prepared and was awaiting the chief secretary’s appraisal and signature.

“Considering the request made by the counsel, a week is granted to file the report,” the tribunal ruled.

Future steps and hearings

The NGT thought about calling the principal secretary of Uttar Pradesh’s environment department but decided not to. Instead, it trusted the government lawyer's promise to act quickly. The tribunal will check the progress again on December 9.

In an earlier hearing on July 1, the NGT mentioned a report by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board. The report said the Ganga water in that area was not clean enough to drink or even use for religious rituals like sipping (achman).

The plea, filed by lawyer Saurabh Tiwary, asks for urgent action to stop untreated sewage from flowing into the river. The tribunal has reminded everyone how important it is to solve this problem to protect the health of pilgrims and the spiritual value of the Maha Kumbh Mela.