Akhilesh Yadav Questions Suppression Of Pollution Data In Triveni Sangam

Lucknow, 20th February 2025: A day, after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dismissed concerns regarding faecal contamination in the waters of Triveni Sangam, where large crowds are gathering for the ongoing MahaKumbh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday, hinted at a possible attempt to suppress information about actual pollution levels.

Yadav shared a news segment on his X account, highlighting a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding river water quality based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels. The report, based on monitoring conducted on January 12-13, 2025, indicated that the water at most locations did not meet the required standards for bathing.

“This issue came to light when the CPCB informed the NGT that the Ganga in Prayagraj is ‘contaminated with sewage’. However, in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, this report was dismissed as false, with claims that the situation is ‘under control’,” Yadav stated in his post.

He further suggested that after the chief minister’s address in the Assembly, people questioned whether dismissing an official report amounted to contempt of a government authority.

“The people of Lucknow believe that the media is being controlled to prevent the spread of news about ‘polluted water’. The public is now asking whether, similar to ‘contempt of court’, legal action can be taken for ‘contempt of a government board or authority’,” Yadav added.

In response, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing the Assembly, asserted that continuous monitoring and purification efforts are being carried out to maintain the quality of water at Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers converge.

“Concerns have been raised regarding water quality at Triveni… All drains and pipelines around Sangam have been sealed, and water is released only after purification,” he stated.

He also emphasized that the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) is regularly assessing the water quality.

“As per the latest reports, the BOD levels near Sangam are below 3, and Dissolved Oxygen levels are between 8-9. This confirms that the water is not only safe for bathing but also suitable for ‘Aachman’,” CM Yogi asserted.