The Allahabad High Court has directed the state government and district administration to submit a report by 10 September regarding the provision of clean and adequate Ganga water for the upcoming 2025 Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
The directive came from a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Vikas Budhwar, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Sunita Sharma, social worker Yogendra Kumar Pandey, and former councilor Kamlesh Singh.
The petitioners have raised concerns that, despite the government’s extensive preparations and substantial budget allocation for the Kumbh Mela, there is no concrete plan for ensuring a sufficient supply of clean Ganga water for the numerous devotees and saints likely to attend the event.
The petition highlights that the state and district authorities have yet to address crucial issues related to water quality and availability.
Specifically, it points out that previous court orders issued by Sunita Sharma to improve Ganga’s water quality including stopping the release of industrial waste from Kanpur’s Trennery, maintaining a daily flow of 4000 cusecs during major bathing festivals, and halting construction within 500 meters of Ganga’s floodplain have not fully implemented.
The High Court has named several key officials and departments in the PIL, including the Principal Secretary of the State Government, the Commissioner and District Magistrate of Prayagraj, the Mela Authority, the Prayagraj Development Authority, and the Municipal Corporation.
This inclusion aims to ensure accountability and effective management of water resources for the Maha Kumbh.
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