A new Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report submitted to the National Green Tribunal has declared the Ganga and Yamuna river water during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj fit for bathing, based on statistical analysis. Released on February 28 and uploaded online on March 7, the report tackled concerns over inconsistent water quality data collected during the festival.

From January 12 to February 22, the CPCB monitored water twice weekly at seven locations—five along the Ganga and two on the Yamuna—including mass bathing sites. Key parameters like pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and fecal coliform (FC) varied widely across dates and locations. The report attributed this “significant variability” to factors such as upstream human activity, river currents, and sampling conditions, noting that individual samples didn’t fully represent the rivers’ overall quality.

To resolve this, the CPCB conducted a statistical analysis of 20 monitoring rounds across 10 bathing sites. Median values for critical indicators met permissible standards: FC at 1,400 units per 100 ml (limit: 2,500), DO at 8.7 mg/L (minimum: 5), and BOD at 2.56 mg/L (maximum: 3). This finding contrasts with a February 17 report, which highlighted elevated FC levels linked to mass bathing, suggesting the water fell short of bathing standards at times.

The report emphasized that while snapshots of data showed fluctuations, the broader statistical trend supported safe bathing conditions. The tribunal has scheduled further discussion for April 7, with Advocate Saurabh Tiwari representing the petitioner. The findings offer reassurance amid ongoing debates about river pollution during India’s largest religious gathering.