NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh irrigation department has successfully merged three streams of the Ganga river at the Sangam area to improve bathing facilities for the millions of devotees expected at the Mahakumbh in 2025.
The officials also confirmed that approximately 22 hectares of additional space has been created, which will allow numerous devotees to bathe simultaneously at a central location.
The Ganga had previously changed its course, dividing into three streams between Shastri Bridge and Sangam Nose. Officials noted this division affected the river’s purity and created complications for Mahakumbh organisation.
This separation reduced the mela area and affected arrangements for pilgrims, according to officials.
The river after the govt’s intervention now flows as a single unified stream, returning to its original course.
“To turn the plan into reality, the expertise of IIT Guwahati’s team was sought. Based on their survey report, three massive dredging machines were deployed to streamline and expand the flow of Ganga in the Sangam area,” the officials said.
The project faced initial challenges due to strong currents and elevated water levels. Officials reported particular difficulty in stabilising dredging machines against the powerful flow and combining the side streams with the central stream.
The team positioned dredgers strategically near Shastri Bridge to address these challenges.
Meanwhile, the strong current repeatedly disrupted the heavy dredgers, causing bent discharge pipes and operational control issues, according to officials.
The solution involved using substantial anchors, pontoon bridges and thick ropes secured to the riverbanks for machine stabilisation.
Officials stated that five lakh metric tonnes of sand were utilised to level the additional 22 hectares, preparing suitable grounds for the upcoming Mahakumbh.
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