Despite millions taking dip in Maha Kumbh Mela, no sign of any disease outbreak, union minister clarifies reason

LUCKNOW: More than 500 million have already taken a dip in the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the lost river Saraswati during the Maha Kumbh Mela. Despite the large number of people taking a dip, there have been no sign of any disease outbreak, said Union Science Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. The minister pointed that nuclear technology has helped in this.

More than 50 crore people have attended the Maha Kumbh Mela so far. No complaints related to cleanliness or infectious diseases have been raised from anywhere. A lot of effort was taken for that, said the minister, who is also a diabetologist. This unique achievement was possible through the deployment of wastewater treatment plants operated by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in Kalpakkam. Both the institutions are affiliated to the Department of Atomic Energy. The minister also explained that a sewage treatment system called 'Hybrid Granular Sequencing Batch Reactors' was deployed at the Kumbh Mela.

There are 11 permanent sewage treatment plants and three temporary ones at the Kumbh Mela. The plants use microbes to treat the dirty water. This system, known as the 'Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant', was developed by Dr Venkat Nancharaiah of the Department of Atomic Energy.

The plants set up on the banks of the Ganga River during the Maha Kumbh Mela can treat 1.5 lakh liters of sewage per day. Moreover, the cost of the granule-based system is also very low, as the system requires less space, less infrastructure and less operating costs. The new system helps reduce costs by 30 to 60 percent compared to traditional methods. Officials point out that this year, since epidemics such as cholera and diarrhea have broken out in previous Kumbh Melas, such problems have not been reported this year. Moreover, the Uttar Pradesh government has installed 1.5 lakh toilets in the area where the fair is being held. Special arrangements have also been made for drinking water.