'Sangam water fit for drinking', says Adityanath even as govt data shows high faecal coliform, excess BOD
The quality of water at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where lakhs of people are taking a holy dip during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, had become the focal point after the CPCB told the National Green Tribunal that several locations do not conform to the primary water quality standards for bathing.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has claimed that the water at the Triveni Sangam, where millions have taken holy dips during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, is fit for both bathing and ritual drinking (aachman). Speaking in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday, the CM also accused the opposition of playing with the faith of the crores of people who have taken a holy dip at the ongoing Mela in Prayagraj, after concerns were raised about the water quality there.
CREDIT: IANS
Faecal coliform levels within acceptable range: Yogi
"This time, 81 drains have been tapped, treating 261 MLD (million litres per day) of sewage. In January and February, faecal coliform levels at the Sangam nose were found to be within the acceptable range, below 2,500 MPN per 100 ml, according to the UP Pollution (Control) Board," Adityanath said in the assembly.
What CPCB said
The quality of water at the Triveni Sangam where lakhs of people are taking a holy dip every day during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, had become the focal point after the Central Pollution Control Board recently told the National Green Tribunal that several locations in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj do not conform to the primary water quality standards for bathing.
CREDIT: IANS
The CPCB had pointed out that the water at the Sangam had higher than permissible levels of faecal coliform.
Higher biological oxygen demand
It is not just the high levels of faecal coliform that are making the water in Prayagraj unsafe; government data also showed that the biological oxygen demand (BOD) is beyond the prescribed limit.
CREDIT: IANS
BOD refers to the amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to break down organic material in a water body. A higher BOD level indicates more organic content in the water.
River water is considered fit for bathing if the BOD level is less than 3 milligrams per litre.
The BOD level at Sangam was 5.09 milligrams per litre at 5 am on February 16. It was recorded at 4.6 milligrams per litre at 5 pm on February 18 and 5.29 milligrams per litre at 8 am on February 19 (Wednesday).
For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
Read More