India, Feb. 21 -- The Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath government on Thursday issued a release, quoting a scientist to "debunk doubts" about the purity of Ganga water at the Maha Kumbh.

The government asserted that the Ganga water in UP's Prayagraj was as pure "as alkaline water." This comes after a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) suggested high presence of 'fecal coliform' bacteria in the river where crores have taken holy dip in the Maha Kumbh since it began on January 13.

According to UP government figures, over 58 crore people have taken a dip in the sacred waters of Triveni Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj since the gather...