In the video, the seer Swami Vikas showed how several sewers were directly dumping their filth in Ganga. The Uttarakhand HC had taken cognizance of the video and it was directed that the matter be treated as a public interest litigation. The court had also issued notices to the state government, Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, district magistrates of Haridwar and Nainital among others to file a reply by May 2.

Purushottam Sharma Gandhiwadi, president of Ganga Sabha, said, “Devotees, due to their immense faith in Ganga, take a dip in it, sip its water and also take it home. The administration knows that this is happening, they promise action against it and claim that efforts are under way to tap the nullahs, but that is nowhere to be seen,” he alleged.

Baba Hathyogi said, “Many people are affected when they see such videos or read news on Ganga's heavy pollution in newspapers. But most of the devotees fear religion. They are led by faith more than logic or reason. Therefore Ganga, with or without pollution, is sacred to them,” he added.