Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India]: Professor Vijay Nath Mishra, Head of the Neurology Department at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), has dismissed the Pollution Board’s concerns regarding high levels of faecal coliform in the Mahakumbh waters. He argued that the Ganga River naturally forms bacteriophages, which help eliminate harmful bacteria.
Faecal coliform is an indicator of sewage contamination, but Mishra stated that the Ganga’s unique properties prevent lasting pollution.
“This phage is capable of killing any amount of pollution. The special thing is that the more the amount of faecal coliforms increases in the water of Ganga, the water of Ganga forms the phage to kill it at twice the speed. The water of Ganga is probably called Amrit because it has the unique property of forming bacteriophage,” he said.
He further explained that touching Ganga water allows bacteriophages to stick to the skin, offering long-term bacterial protection.
“Ganga water has the ability to make phages. Due to this, Ganga water always remains Amrit. Once you touch Ganga water, those phages stick to your hand, continuously killing bacteria or viruses,” he added.
Scientific Testing and Mahakumbh’s Mass Gatherings
Mishra acknowledged that the presence of sewage may lead to increased faecal coliform levels, especially in areas with heavy footfall and mass bathing. However, he insisted that Ganga water naturally balances itself through phage formation, ensuring cleanliness.
“Wherever there is a mass bath, faecal coliform increases. We are doing phage density testing. Any bacteria in river Ganga forms phage against the bacteria which kills the bacteria. When you touch Ganga water, then, the bacteriophage sticks to the hand, which remains there throughout life,” he added.
He emphasized that this self-purifying ability explains why devotees at the Mahakumbh have not reported infections after ritual baths.
Sanitation Efforts During Mahakumbh
With millions of devotees attending the Mahakumbh, the Prayagraj Mela Authority has ramped up sanitation efforts using advanced waste management technologies.
Cleanliness Chief Akanksha Rana highlighted the massive challenge posed by large-scale gatherings, food zones, and ritualistic clothing disposal at the ghats.
“The people who bathe here have the belief that after bathing, they leave their clothes on the ghat itself and go wearing new clothes. Along with this, large-scale bhandaras, food zones, and heavy foot traffic generate a significant amount of garbage, making its daily disposal a major challenge.”
To address this, the administration has implemented solid waste management strategies, including:
- Deployment of 120 tippers and compactors
- Installation of 25,000 dustbins (placed every 50 meters and emptied three times daily)
- Use of liner bags for efficient garbage collection
- Transfer stations to process waste before sending it to a treatment plant
Massive Waste Management Operation
According to official data, over 14,000 metric tonnes of waste have already been collected and transported to the Baswar Treatment Plant. This is a significant rise from 2019, when only 9,000 metric tonnes were processed.
Officials estimate that solid waste generation during this year’s Mahakumbh could exceed 20,000 metric tonnes.
With both natural and scientific interventions, authorities and researchers remain confident that Ganga water will remain safe for devotees, even amid concerns over pollution.