New Delhi - Acharya Jaishankar, an IIT graduate turned spiritual leader often called "IIT Baba," has challenged a recent Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report claiming high pollution levels in the Ganga River at Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh.

In an interview, Jaishankar dismissed concerns about water quality at the Sangam (confluence of rivers), stating, "We have just come back from there after taking a bath. We did not see anything as mentioned in the report. The water is flowing and as far as bacteria is concerned, how can it survive?"

The CPCB report submitted to the National Green Tribunal had indicated elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria in the Ganga at Prayagraj, suggesting pollution levels exceeding standard parameters during the major religious gathering.

Jaishankar, who abandoned a career in the United States to pursue spirituality, compared current conditions to his student days: "I have been seeing the water of Ganga while studying in Banaras, and now it is better than before. We did not see any problem."

He added that pilgrims attend Kumbh primarily for spiritual reasons rather than environmental assessments, noting, "People come here not to see the system, but for faith, so the water report does not matter to them."

When questioned about claims that this year's event represents a truly rare "Maha Kumbh" occurring after 144 years, Jaishankar confirmed the astronomical significance: "There is no doubt that such a combination exists after 144 years. Earlier the name of the city was 'Tirtharaj.'"

The spiritual leader also addressed other Kumbh-related controversies, including former actress Mamta Kulkarni's reported intention to become a Mahamandaleshwar in the Kinnar Akhara. He stated, "Without knowledge of the scriptures, no one can become a Mahamandaleshwar. Such efforts are useless."

Regarding allegations about underreporting deaths during a Kumbh stampede, Jaishankar argued transparency is inevitable in the digital age: "In today's era, it is impossible to hide any incident due to social media. Even if the police had done this, the truth would surely have come to someone by now."