Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath rejected claims of water contamination at the Mahakumbh, which was underway at Prayagraj on Wednesday. According to him, the allegations of the presence of faecal bacteria in the waters of the Sangam were part of a deliberate ‘propaganda’ campaign to defame Sanatan Dharma, Mother Ganga and India’s cultural and spiritual traditions. Concerning such reports, he further insisted that they have been misleading and seeking to undermine the faith of millions of devotees who have participated in the grand religious gathering by taking a holy dip in the sacred waters.
This came following an entry into the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Monday, which stated that water quality at a number of places in Prayagraj could not match primary standards for bathing. The high levels of faecal coliform bacteria — indicative of contamination and health risk — in the water were found by CPCB. Bacteria that can be found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and humans, including humans, are a pointer to harmful pathogens such as viruses or parasites, which are potentially dangerous for the host.
But CM Yogi Adityanath denied these findings and said the Sangam water is still fit for bathing as well as performing religious rituals. Elaborating on his earlier message, he criticized the circulation of ‘fake videos’ and baseless allegations against the Mahakumbh, one of the largest religious congregations in the world, as an attempt to defame it.
Meanwhile, the debate about water quality is being addressed by discussions regarding environmental management and means to guarantee safe and clean conditions for the millions of pilgrims attending the sacred festival.
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