Smoke on the water

Published on:

15 Feb 2013, 12:12 pm

<p>A lone policeman walks the night <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

A lone policeman walks the night

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>The grounds were littered with scores of footwear lost or left behind by the faithful. How to get rid of them? Burn 'em of course <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

The grounds were littered with scores of footwear lost or left behind by the faithful. How to get rid of them? Burn 'em of course

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>Final destination: the trash was burnt near the banks of the river <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

Final destination: the trash was burnt near the banks of the river

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>Pilgrims resorting to transport means like the one above due to inadequate arrangements <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

Pilgrims resorting to transport means like the one above due to inadequate arrangements

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>Makeshift toilet arrangements were visible throughout the Mela area. It was worse for ladies <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

Makeshift toilet arrangements were visible throughout the Mela area. It was worse for ladies

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>The burning of waste was overseen by the Mela officials <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

The burning of waste was overseen by the Mela officials

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>February 10 saw one of the largest gathering of humanity in one place. Over 30 million people converged on the banks of Sangam at Allahabad for Kumbh Mela to wash away their sins. But what happened to the trash they left behind? Time magazine reported that a majority of the trash is being recycled into either organic manure or organic plastic pellets, which are used to make products like sandals and trainer soles. These pictures tell a different story. The solid waste is being disposed of in the worst possible way. On the night of Mauni Amavasya, open burning was taking place on the banks of the river <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N</p><br />

February 10 saw one of the largest gathering of humanity in one place. Over 30 million people converged on the banks of Sangam at Allahabad for Kumbh Mela to wash away their sins. But what happened to the trash they left behind? Time magazine reported that a majority of the trash is being recycled into either organic manure or organic plastic pellets, which are used to make products like sandals and trainer soles. These pictures tell a different story. The solid waste is being disposed of in the worst possible way. On the night of Mauni Amavasya, open burning was taking place on the banks of the river

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>Plumes of smoke seen floating across the river. Even god can't see through this one <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

Plumes of smoke seen floating across the river. Even god can't see through this one

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>Cooking on open fire due to a lack of facilities and burning of waste enveloped the Mela grounds with smog. With so many pilgrims camping on the banks before Mauni Amavasya, air pollution became a real nuisance in the night <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

Cooking on open fire due to a lack of facilities and burning of waste enveloped the Mela grounds with smog. With so many pilgrims camping on the banks before Mauni Amavasya, air pollution became a real nuisance in the night

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>Can hardly wait: trash being burnt in the truck used for transportation <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

Can hardly wait: trash being burnt in the truck used for transportation

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>Trash collection bins (seen at the bottom right) were provided throughout the Mela area, but there was no apparent plan to dispose of the waste properly <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

Trash collection bins (seen at the bottom right) were provided throughout the Mela area, but there was no apparent plan to dispose of the waste properly

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N

<p>People seen leaving the Mela at night. Most of the pilgrims were camping on the banks of the river, as were the sadhus. Intense smog at night left many teary eyed and gasping for breath <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Read also:</strong> <a target='_blank' href='http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/kumbh-2013'>Why the Ganga will remain dirty</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Photographs by:</strong> Sai Siddhartha N </p><br />

People seen leaving the Mela at night. Most of the pilgrims were camping on the banks of the river, as were the sadhus. Intense smog at night left many teary eyed and gasping for breath

Read also: Why the Ganga will remain dirty

Photographs by: Sai Siddhartha N