'Not fit for bathing': Pollution board flags presence of bacteria in some rivers in Prayagraj
PTC News Desk: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has flagged that river water at certain locations is not fit for bathing due to the presence of high levels of bacteria commonly found in human and animal excreta.
Faecal coliform, a marker of sewage contamination, has a permissible limit of 2,500 units per 100 ml, according to the CPCB.
A bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A Senthil Vel was hearing the issue of preventing sewage discharge into the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Prayagraj.
The bench in reference to the report submitted regarding the water quality said, CPCB had filed a report dated February 3, pointing out certain non-compliances or violations. "The river water quality was not conforming to the primary water quality for bathing with respect to faecal coliform (FC) at all the monitored locations on various occasions. A large number of people bathe in the river at Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh Mela, including on auspicious bathing days, which eventually leads to an increase in faecal concentration," the report said.
The bench also pointed out that the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) had failed to follow the tribunal’s previous order to submit a detailed action taken report. The tribunal noted that the UPPCB had only submitted a covering letter along with some water test reports. The tribunal granted one day for the Uttar Pradesh state counsel to review the report and file a response.
- PTC NEWS
