In a development that is nothing short of a miracle, the level of sewage in water at the Sangam, the site of the ongoing Kumbh Mela was recorded at 780 units (per 100 ml) on February 17, well under the safe limit of 2,500, and far lower than the 49,000 recorded on January 20.
All the measurements were by the Central Pollution Control Board, and it wasn’t immediately clear why there was so much variation – the number has ranged from 1.8 to 49,000.
The 49,000 number caused an outrage, because it suggested that tens of millions of faithful were being forced to take a dip in unclean water.
To be sure, the faecal coliform level – it indicates the level of contamination of sewage in water – was above permissible limits between January 14 (11,000) and 28 (when it fell to 200). The Kumbh Mela began on January 13.
The data is from the latest report of CPCB submitted to the National Green Tribunal, which is continuously updated by the body. HT has seen the data which is available on the CPCB website. This report shows that apart from February 4, water at the Sangam was fit for bathing throughout February.
