Long-term solutions, rather than denial, are required to address Ganga pollution.

• Nearly 45 crore visitors, a third of India’s population, have visited Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela.

• The Ganga at Prayagraj, where devotees bathe and drink, becomes a complex receptacle of microbiomes.

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been assessing water quality at Prayagraj since the festival began.

• On Makar Sankranti, faecal coliform levels were high, exceeding the permissible limit of 2,500 units.

• The water quality on January 12-13, 2025 was not fit for bathing or drinking, despite bathing having a higher tolerance limit.

• The CPCB report also noted a reduction in organic pollution due to freshwater intrusion upstream.

• The river’s suitability for bathing fluctuates based on water flow and dilution.

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s dismissal of scientific data as “baseless” is misleading.

• The Kumbh Mela highlights the urgent need for long-term solutions, not denialism.