Kumbh water pollution & climate crisis: Do our politicians really care? | LME 64

A river is meant to be a lifeline. But what happens when it’s clogged with sewage, industrial waste, and even human poop?  

This is the grim reality of the Ganga—one of India’s holiest rivers. 

People worship it and bathe in it. Yet, it’s dangerously polluted.

But do you know what UP CM Adityanath said?

Yes, the Ganga is pure. So pure that you can drink from it. And anyone who says otherwise? Well they’re just trying to defame the sacred Kumbh or the Ganga. 

Or of course they are paid by George Soros.

But think about this. If the river was truly pristine, why has the government spent ₹13,000 crore on cleaning it? 

And why are they still throwing money at it?

Look, Adityanath isn’t the only one downplaying pollution. 

Many politicians, including Narendra Modi, have dismissed environmental concerns in the past. At one point, even Modi was a climate change denier.  

Ridiculous? Absolutely. But it’s no joking matter.

Because here’s the thing—when leaders live in denial, we all pay the price:

Heatwaves kill thousands every year.  

Smog cuts short lives.  

Flash floods wipe out homes and families.  

Modi has changed his stance since, but denial at the top has real-world consequences:  

Has India’s pollution levels reduced? Is Adityanath right about the Ganga?

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Now back to what we were talking about. 

Now here’s the problem with politicians like Adityanath and the governments they run. They refuse to admit pollution is a problem.

Let me tell you how. 

The UP government says the Ganga has the superpower to cleanse itself. They even cited a “study” by an award-winning scientist. Impressive…except that his specialization is…making pearls.

The UP govt released a statement quoting Padma Shri awardee scientist Ajay Kumar Sonkar.  

The government says Sonkar collected water samples from five major bathing ghats, including Sangam Nose—the heart of the Maha Kumbh.  

This spot is crucial. It’s where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati meet in Prayagraj. It’s also the site of the devastating stampede.

The lab apparently found no bacterial growth in these samples of water.

Even the pH level of the water stayed the same it seems

This, even after millions of people bathing in the river.

But there was a small issue with this study. It was neither peer reviewed, nor published in any scientific journal.

So how do we know of the study’s existence? 

It is on Sonkar’s own YouTube page. 

Dr Sonkar conducted an unmonitored experiment on water samples from the Ganga that…Dr Sonkar collected.

Now why did he do this experiment?

Because the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released a report that didn’t sit well with the UP government.  

The report found that water at the Sangam and six other locations had high levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

What does it mean? 

A clear sign of pollution.It means the water has a lot of decaying organic matter.

Typically, for river water, if the BOD level is less than 3 milligrams a litre, it is considered safe for bathing.

According to the CPCB, the water at the Sangam was safe for bathing when the Maha Kumbh began. That’s on January 13, 2025.

Even then, the BOD level was 3.94 milligrams per liter, just over the safe levels for bathing.

But in the next few days, it rose steadily

And by the morning of February 19 it spiked to 5.29 milligrams per liter.

But that wasn’t all.

The water had fecal coliform, or in other words, human poop. And that too 13 times above the safe limit for bathing. For drinking, the water should NOT have any E coli.

The CPCB’s findings became big news.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) called out the UP government for failing to provide enough details on faecal coliform and other water quality parameters.

And tada- just a day later, the UP govt came out with its press release. 

Dr Sonkar’s study also found the Ganga water to contain 1,100 types of bacteriophages.

Bacteriophages are viruses that can destroy bacteria.  

The government believes that no matter how polluted the Ganga is, these viruses will help it clean itself.

Now, 

This finding that the Ganga can self-purify is not new.

The NGT mentioned this in a 2017 judgment. It even cited ancient texts like the Charak Samhita, which calls the Ganga pure and sacred, claiming it can keep germs and bacteria away.

The NGT also mentioned a number of studies. The National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow confirmed that Ganga water has an antibacterial effect on E. coli.

But here’s the thing.

It is not unique to the Ganga. Rivers, in general, can purify themselves. 

The faster the water moves, the more oxygen it can carry, which helps break down organic waste. 

So, essentially, any river with a decent flow has some self-purification powers.

It might also be likely that Ganga is slightly more effective than other rivers in this.

But, there’s a catch. 

The self-purification abilities of Ganga, and many other rivers in India, are at huge risk. 

Excessive amounts of water is being used for drinking, irrigation, and power generation. Ganga’s water flow, especially in dry seasons, has dropped significantly. 

In places like Rishikesh and Prayagraj, the river almost stops flowing during winters and summers. 

But  the sewage and wastewater continues to keep pouring in.

And it’s not just Ganga.

According to a study by the CPCB in 2022, more than half of India’s 605 rivers are polluted.

Even in the south, the situation is not starkly different.

The Bellandur lake in Bengaluru, the Kallayi river in Kozhikode, Adayar in Tamil Nadu, Godavari and Krishna in Andhra and Telangana are all heavily polluted.
It’s not just the rivers- our air is also polluted and becoming worse by the day.

So, what do we do?

Because politicians don’t exactly seem to inspire confidence.

Adityanath isn’t the only one brushing off pollution—he’s got plenty of company.

Like Prakash Javadekar, a former Environment Minister who had claimed there is no link between pollution and shortening of life expectancy.

Or ​​BJP leader Anil Vij who had said there’s no need to fear pollution; it only affects those who consume alcohol and cigarettes.

Or remember when AIADMK leader and minister Sellur Raju, who thought the solution to saving water was... thermocol?
He thought a ₹10 lakh thermocol blanket could stop a dam from losing water to evaporation.

He became an instant meme. 

Sadly, it’s a textbook example of how little our politicians understand environmental issues.

As climate change activist Disha Ravi points out, our political parties view environmental concerns as one-off issues, which they can resolve with ad hoc policies.

India is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries. We face extreme heat, water shortages, floods, and pollution. The World Bank estimates that climate-related losses have cost us 8.5% of our GDP. That’s 221 billion dollars annually. 

Climate change impacts everyone. But yet, climate action isn’t a major political issue. The BJP and Congress manifestos in 2024 acknowledge climate concerns. But both had no real roadmap or bold action plans.  

83 of the world’s 100 most polluted cities are in India, including New Delhi which is the most polluted capital. Environmental issues deeply affect public health, livelihood and economic stability. 

Climate change also worsens social inequalities. While privileged groups can cope better, marginalized communities, especially lower-caste groups, face the harshest consequences. Until climate action becomes a political priority, India will continue to bear the costs of inaction.

There definitely seems to be some political consciousness now.

In 2021, Modi announced a five-pronged action plan.

There has been some shift. 

But there is a wide gap between announcements and actions. 

Let me explain this a bit.

Climate change is largely driven by burning fossil fuels, with coal being the worst offender.  

At global summits, Modi promotes renewable energy. But back home, his government keeps expanding coal. 

Sample this: In 2021, India spent nine times more on fossil fuel subsidies than on clean energy. 

And our Union Environment Ministry has been extending deadlines for thermal power plants to meet sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emission norms. So far four extensions have been given

In the fiscal year 2023, India's subsidies for coal was approximately ₹50,000 crore. This was a 17% increase from 2022.

In 2024, coal-fired power plants generated a record 73.4% of India’s total electricity. 

As of early 2025, coal is still India’s main source of electricity. 

So you see how despite what is being announced, politics and economics play a big role. And coal is the dominant fuel, backed by powerful companies. The government also prioritizes keeping electricity cheap.  

The BJP promised to reduce air pollution. In 2019, the Modi government launched the National Clean Air Programme for 131 cities.  

A 2022 report found only 69 cities had real-time air monitoring. Just 14 saw a 10% drop in pollution, while 16 got worse.

In 2014, the Modi government launched the ₹20,000 crore Namami Gange Programme to clean the Ganga.  

The project has faced major delays. In 2022-23, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh used only 7% of their budgets. Its impact has been limited—71% of monitoring stations reported alarming levels of faecal contamination.  

India’s climate progress is rated “highly insufficient” by Climate Action Tracker. 

The point I am making is this. 

While grand statements have been made and lofty goals have been set, on ground, things are not necessarily moving in the right direction. 

The solution isn’t as simple as throwing quick fixes at the issue. 

For starters, we need better waste management.

It’s about creating systems that stop pollution at the source.

What we need is thoughtful, science-based action.

And more importantly we need political will. Not people in power using pseudoscience as the guide for policy framework.

If things don’t change, coal and vehicle emissions will keep choking cities like Delhi.  

Heat waves will get worse and more frequent.  

Flash floods will continue to wreak havoc on our landscapes.

For suggestions & feedback write to pooja@thenewsminute.com

Produced by Megha Mukundan, edited by Nikhil Sekhar, research by Lakshmi Priya

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