By the end of December, the Ganga river in Prayagraj will be ready for pilgrims to take a holy dip, with no untreated sewage flowing into the river, as per an official statement. This cleanup initiative, being carried out just ahead of Mahakumbh 2025, aims to ensure that the river remains clean for the massive religious gathering starting January 13th, 2025.

Anurag Srivastava, Principal Secretary of Namami Gange and Project Director of the Rajya Swachh Ganga Mission emphasized that the primary focus is on improving the sewage infrastructure to reduce river pollution. Efforts are underway to connect all city drains to the sewage lines and prevent untreated effluents from entering the Ganga. Where sewer connections are not feasible, advanced oxidation methods will be used to treat the effluent.

The official also highlighted that a significant portion of Prayagraj’s population, along with that of other cities like Kanpur, currently lacks proper sewer connections. However, plans are in place to expand the sewer system to cover the entire population, ensuring cleaner rivers and a healthier environment for the upcoming Mahakumbh.