Preparations are in full swing to ensure that the Maha Kumbh 2025, which will take place in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26, is not only grand and spiritually uplifting but also safe and hygienic.

In line with these efforts, UP Jal Nigam (Urban) has set up a processing plant based on geotube technology at Salori. Built at a cost of Rs 55 crore, the plant will treat wastewater from the city’s 22 untapped pipelines, ensuring that no untreated water flows into the Ganga, as per the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The initiative aims to ensure that the waters of the holy river remain clean, uninterrupted and meet the highest standards of purity as millions of devotees are expected to gather at Prayagraj to bathe at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga-Yamuna-Rivers Saraswati.

It is worth mentioning here that during Magh and Kumbh Melas organized before 2019, devotees often had to bathe in the contaminated water of the Sangam. However, in line with CM Yogi’s explicit directive to prevent discharge of untreated sewage from drains or sewage into sacred rivers, the treatment plant based on geotube technology was established at Salori.

Jal Nigam Executive Engineer (Urban) Saurabh Kumar said the plant, built at a cost of Rs 55 crore, is currently undergoing trials and will be fully operational from January 1, ensuring a flow of clean and pure water at the Sangam during the big event.

He further explained that geotube technology is a modern method of wastewater treatment. The technology treats 40 to 50 percent of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and approximately 80 percent of the total suspended solids (TSS) directly in the geotubes.

Then the treated water is purified using hydrogen peroxide and undergoes ozonation. Kumar said ozonation is used instead of chlorination at this plant because high concentrations of chlorine in the treated water can be harmful to aquatic life.

Ozonation effectively kills all types of fecal bacteria, making the water suitable for discharge into rivers. The entire process is monitored 24/7 using OCEMS technology.

Notably, during his visit to Prayagraj on December 12, CM Yogi inspected the sewage treatment plant and gave instructions to ensure its smooth functioning during the Maha Kumbh.