Ganga Water Purity

• 25 Feb 2025

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government issued a press release to clear the doubts about the purity of Ganga water in the Maha Kumbh 2025.  

Key Points   

• About the issue : 
  • Claim of purity of Ganga water : 
    • The press release was issued in reference to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) , in which doubts were raised over the quality of Ganga water in the Maha Kumbh . 
  • CPCB Report: 
    •  The CPCB report had said that at the beginning of the Maha Kumbh, the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of water at Sangam was 3.94 milligrams per litre. 
    • On 14^th January, it was 2.28 mg per liter and on 15^th January, it decreased to 1 mg per liter. 
    • However, on 24^th January, the BOD increased to 4.08 mg per litre and on 29^th January, it was recorded at 3.26 mg per litre. 
  • Research by Dr. Ajay Kumar Sonkar : 
    • Padmashree Dr. Ajay Kumar Sonkar dismissed doubts with scientific evidence to prove the purity of Ganga water. 
    • He collected water samples from various major bathing ghats of the Maha Kumbh and examined them microscopically. 
    • They found that despite millions of devotees taking bath in Ganga water, there was no growth of bacteria in it. 
    • No drop was observed in the pH level of water either. 
• Presence of natural viruses : 
  • Ganga water contains 1,100 types of natural viruses, called bacteriophages, that eliminate harmful bacteria. 

 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 

• The CPCB was constituted as a statutory organisation in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 . 
• Thereafter, the Central Pollution Control Board was entrusted with powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. 
• The Board also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 . 
• The main functions of the Central Pollution Control Board are described under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 . 

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) 

• The amount of oxygen required for the biochemical decomposition of organic matter in water is called  BOD . 
• The amount of water pollution is measured through BOD. But only biodegradable matter can be detected through BOD and it is a very long process. Hence BOD is not used in measuring pollution. 
• It is noteworthy that high levels of BOD means that more oxygen is required to decompose large amounts of organic matter present in water.