New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding allegations of inadequate sanitation facilities at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, which have led to widespread open defecation along the banks of the Ganga River. The notices were also sent to the Prayagraj Mela Authority and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) on February 14, demanding their response before the next hearing scheduled for February 25.
The petition, filed by Nipun Bhushan, claims that despite the installation of numerous bio-toilets, a severe lack of clean washrooms has forced lakhs of pilgrims and families to resort to open defecation. The petition highlights several videos circulating on social media showing human excreta accumulating along the riverbanks, raising serious environmental and public health concerns.
As part of the legal demand, the petitioner has sought a compensation of Rs 10 crore from the Uttar Pradesh government for its failure to ensure proper sanitation facilities. The application cites Article 48A of the Constitution, which mandates the state to protect and improve the environment.
The tribunal, led by Justice Prakash Srivatsava and expert member Dr. A. Senthilvel, has instructed the concerned authorities to submit their responses at least a week before the scheduled hearing. The NGT also took note of the petitioner's submission of a pen drive containing video evidence of poor sanitation conditions at the festival site. A previous water quality test conducted in November 2024 at Triveni Sangam revealed that faecal coliform levels in the river had reached 3,300 MPN (Most Probable Number) per 100 millilitres, surpassing the Environment Ministry's permissible limit of 2,500 MPN/100 ml. Another recent NGT report had already raised alarms about rising faecal coliform levels in the Ganga, making it unsafe for bathing.
The petition further argues that the presence of such high levels of contamination increases the risk of severe waterborne diseases, including cholera, hepatitis A, and polio. Despite reports of 1.5 lakh bio-toilets being operational at the venue, the massive influx of pilgrims has overwhelmed the available sanitation infrastructure, leading to unsanitary conditions.
The issue has sparked widespread concern over public health and environmental degradation, and the upcoming NGT hearing will determine further actions and responsibilities regarding the sanitation crisis at the Maha Kumbh Mela.