The National Green Tribunal has recently issued a formal notice to the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the Prayagraj Mela Authority, and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UP PCB) in response to allegations of critical lapses in sanitation infrastructure at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025.
These deficiencies have reportedly resulted in widespread open defecation along the banks of the Ganga River, posing significant environmental and public health risks.
A bench consisting of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel has directed the concerned authorities to submit their responses no later than one week before the next scheduled hearing on February 24.
“The application alleges that lakhs of ordinary people and families are forced to defecate in the open on the banks of the river Ganga due to a lack of adequate facilities. In support of the plea taken in the OA, the applicant has enclosed a pen drive containing videos,” the NGT noted.
The petition, filed by environmental advocate Nipun Bhushan, seeks ₹10 crore in environmental compensation from the Government of Uttar Pradesh. It contends that the failure to provide adequate sanitation measures has directly contributed to significant pollution.
The petition invokes the ‘polluter pays’ principle, a fundamental tenet of environmental law that mandates those responsible for environmental degradation bear the cost of remediation.
Additionally, the petition argues that the state’s inaction constitutes a violation of Article 48A of the Indian Constitution, which obligates the government to protect and enhance the environment. The allowance of mass open defecation and failure to implement adequate sanitation facilities is presented as a clear contravention of this constitutional duty.
Despite governmental assurances regarding the installation of bio-toilets, the petition asserts that thousands of pilgrims continue to defecate in the open due to the lack of clean and functional facilities.
Even assuming the reported 1.5 lakh bio-toilets at the site are fully operational, they remain grossly insufficient to accommodate the vast influx of attendees.
The petition is substantiated with video documentation purportedly depicting the accumulation of human waste along the riverbanks, intensifying concerns over public health hazards.
The plea further references a November 2024 water quality analysis, which recorded Fecal Coliform levels at 3,300 Most Probable Number (MPN) per 100 milliliters at the downstream Sangam area—far exceeding the permissible limit of 2,500 MPN/100 ml as stipulated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
The presence of such microbial contaminants presents a severe threat of waterborne diseases, including cholera, hepatitis A, and polio, placing millions of devotees engaging in ritual bathing at grave risk.
A report recently submitted to the NGT by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) further corroborates these concerns, revealing critically high levels of Fecal Coliform, rendering the river water unsuitable for bathing.
The petition also highlights the lack of transparency in water quality monitoring, emphasizing that the UP PCB has not published updated assessments, thereby raising concerns regarding regulatory oversight and accountability.
This case underscores the pressing need for comprehensive infrastructural reforms and stringent policy interventions to address the environmental and public health challenges associated with one of the world’s largest religious congregations.
Furthermore, it highlights the broader intersection of governance, environmental sustainability, and human rights in the context of mass public events.
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