Allahabad: Maha Kumbh, the world’s biggest gathering of humanity, is set to begin on Monday when an estimated 1.1 crore devotees will take the holy dip at Sangam on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. All arrangements seem to be in place except for one problem — there isn’t enough water in the Ganga for the mass ritual. Experts at Allahabad University and UP Pollution Control Board said there’s just knee-deep water at Sangam and around three feet at the main bathing areas. The level in the post-monsoon season should be two-three metres above this, they said Alarmed by the dipping level, authorities released more water from upstream dams in the Ganga earlier this month. This led to a rise of just 10cm on January 6, with the rest being used up by farmers for the rabi crop. Since then, the water level has dropped sharply and now stands much below the level seen before the release of extra water. Late last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed concern over pollution levels in the Ganga and Yamuna. The PMO said it would ensure release of adequate water from Tehri Dam for the mela period. But that has not happened yet. “The situation is alarming. The average depth of Ganga is barely seven feet and there hardly two feet water at the banks,” said Prof S S Ojha, who teaches geography at Allahabad University. On January 5, the level of water in the Ganga at Phaphamau, a few hundred metres before the Sangam, stood at 76.48 metres from the mean sea level. By January 11, it had dropped to 71.51. Likewise, at Chatnag on the other side of Sangam, the level 71.520 metres on January 4. It increased by 6cm on January 5 when the extra water was released but now stands at 71.630m. “Though any volume of water added upstream will improve BOD (biological oxygen demand) level, with the vast catchment area of the Ganga and high water consumption due to Rabi season, it is unlikely that the added volume would make much of a difference in Allahabad,” said geomorphologist Savindra Singh said. The Stage Is Set E ven as you read this, a sea of humanity would have already taken - or would be taking - a dip into Sangam’s lapping waters along with a mass of saints rushing to take their first shahi snaan (royal bath) on Makar Sankranti on Monday. In fact, thousands of devotees had taken their position at the ghats by Sunday midnight ready to take a plunge well before the dawn. “We will finish off well before others start,” one of them told TOI