Drowning in sin

VENKATESH DUTTA

The Ganga is not just a river but considered mother to millions of Hindus, deeply embedded in both faith and daily life. Beyond religious beliefs, it serves as a vital lifeline for a large part of India’s population. The tradition of taking a holy dip during the Mahakumbh is rooted in the belief that, during specific planetary alignments, the waters of the Ganga transform into ‘Amrit’ — the nectar of immortality.

For this sacred ritual, a minimum water level, ideally waist-deep, is necessary, and the water quality must meet bathing standards to ensure the safety and sanctity of the experience.

Between May and June last year, a 1.5-km stretch of the Ganga, from Shastri Bridge to the Sangam, was dredged to reclaim riverbed land for the gathering. As a result, the river’s course was shifted 200 metres away, and its naturally braided channels — previously split into three streams — were merged into a single flow.

To ensure adequate water depth for the ritual baths, an additional discharge of 230 cubic metres per second (cumecs) has been released from the Tehri Dam reservoir since December 15 for the Prayagraj Mahakumbh. Further, since December 24, 5,000 cusecs of water have been released from the Narora Barrage, with the Kanpur Barrage also contributing significantly to the Ganga’s flow.

Given the river’s travel time, water released from Narora Barrage takes approximately 10 days to reach the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, while water from Tehri Dam takes around 22 days. Therefore, these releases are carefully timed in advance of the key bathing days to maintain sufficient water levels.

Flow is a master variable in river ecosystems — when a river’s natural flow improves, it tends to cleanse itself through dilution and sediment transport. However, the greatest challenge remains on-site sewage treatment. Without it, the risk of untreated waste mixing with the Ganga is dangerously high.

Managing a gathering of this magnitude in such a confined space is a formidable task. Yet, an even greater challenge lies in preserving the river’s self-cleansing ability to sustain such an immense population influx.

Releasing additional water is a temporary fix — it enhances dilution, making the river appear rejuvenated. But how long will this illusion last? Without sustained efforts in pollution control, wastewater management, and ecological restoration, the cycle of contamination will continue, undermining long-term river health.

On special bathing days, approximately 35 million to 40 million people took a dip in the Ganga, generating an estimated 15 million litres to 20 million litres of sewage. This is in addition to the 472 MLD (million litres per day) of sewage that Prayagraj produces daily. Before November 2024, a significant portion of this sewage was not being properly treated, with 128 MLD of untreated wastewater flowing directly into the Ganga. However, in the lead-up to the Mahakumbh, following strict directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the administration pledged to treat a major share of this pollution load.

In an affidavit submitted to the NGT in December 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government reported that out of the 471.92 MLD of total sewage, 293 MLD is discharged into 81 drains flowing into the Ganga and Yamuna, and 178.31 MLD enters the sewage network, which is linked to 10 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 390 MLD.

Of the 81 drains carrying sewage into the Ganga, 37 have been connected to STPs, treating approximately 216 MLD of wastewater. However, the remaining 44 drains, which carry 77.42 MLD of sewage, remain untapped and untreated. Authorities claimed that on-site treatment — including screening, ponding, and biological and chemical processing — was implemented. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain, as the water quality of the treated effluent flowing into the river was not adequately tested. The river stretch between Bullua Ghat and Rasoolabad Ghat continues to receive multiple sewage streams carrying untreated waste, undermining river health.

To manage the massive influx of pilgrims, approximately 1,45,000 toilets and urinals were installed. However, many became unusable due to a lack of timely cleaning and maintenance. With over 10,000 sanitation workers operating in shifts, the sheer scale of the gathering made waste management a monumental challenge. Even with 120 tippers and 40 compactor trucks, the solid waste generated during the special bathing days overwhelmed the available infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for more efficient waste management strategies in future events.

While these measures represent progress, effective long-term wastewater management remains critical to maintaining river health beyond the festival period. While millions come to the Ganga to wash away their sins, the real question remains — can the river survive our sins against it?

Venkatesh Dutta is a Gomti River Waterkeeper and a professor of environmental sciences at Ambedkar University, Lucknow