Water and soil in the industrial areas of Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat and surrounding districts are full of heavy metals. Traces of dangerous metals are being found in the bodies of people exposed to pollution. Many people are suffering from serious diseases, as per a new report.
The conditions in the industrial areas of Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat and Fatehpur districts are of an ‘emergency’ nature, the interim report filed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said.
Medical camps should be organised immediately in the affected areas and blood and serum samples should be tested by CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, the document recommended.
A bench headed by NGT Chairman Justice Prakash Srivastava is hearing the case of effluents being discharged from industrial units, especially tanneries, without treatment or partial treatment and the consequent industrial pollution in Kanpur and its surrounding industrial areas.
The amicus curiae, appointed in the case on August 14, 2024, had sought permission to inspect industrial areas in Kanpur and adjoining districts and filed his interim report on it on November 26.
A total of 992 patients were examined in health camps in the Jajmau industrial area. Skin diseases (530), lung diseases (42) and liver diseases (120) were found to be rampant among them.
Some 375 patients were examined in three health camps in the Juhi Baburia area of Rakhi Mandi, Kanpur. Traces of chromium and mercury were found in 44 people among them. Of these, 16 people currently live in the area. Apart from this, skin diseases (68), lung diseases (7), liver diseases (24) were found among the people of the area.
A total of 93 people tested in the Panki Industrial Area were found to have skin diseases (2), liver diseases (2), and hypertension (5).
Skin diseases and respiratory system problems were reported in Nauraiya Kheda and Acid Mill campus of Kanpur.
Pits filled with rain water have become poisonous ponds at many places in Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat and Fatehpur due to excessive chromium deposition. The flow of domestic and industrial waste has been observed in the Yamuna river and its tributaries. Cases of skin diseases, lung diseases, mental health problems and asthma are increasing among local residents.
The level of pollution in Atal Ghat, Nawab Ganj and Golaghat Nullah of Kanpur city is very high. The Jajmau STP is in a very poor condition and sewer lines in Juhi Baburia are jammed.
Meanwhile, industrial ash is being used in agricultural land of several rural areas of Kanpur. Contaminated water is being consumed by animals.
MLMP Food Pvt Ltd has chromium deposits in Fatehpur. Whereas a huge amount of chromium and ash was found near Baniya Kheda Road.
The amicus curiae recommended that non-functioning sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Kanpur city should be investigated, and immediate solutions should be found. If the remediation work takes time, then keeping in mind the Maha Kumbh, a temporary action plan should be implemented to stop pollution in the Ganga and Pandu rivers.
Down to Earth had reported in October that not only is partially treated industrial effluent reaching the Ganga from agricultural canals in Kanpur’s Jajmau area, but there is also the presence of excessive heavy metals in the agricultural land there.
Temporary treatment of sewage should be done in places where drains are not connected to STPs, according to the recommendations. Apart from this, sites contaminated with heavy metals (like chromium and ash) in Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar and Fatehpur should be identified and mapped. Adequate water should be provided to affected people in these areas for survival.
Apart from this, samples of soil, ground water and surface water of the contaminated areas in the three districts should be taken and a time-bound action plan made. The quality of river and ground water should be monitored.
The committee said no new construction should be allowed in areas where chromium is deposited under the ground.
The NGT has ordered state and district authorities to take action on the recommendations of the amicus curiae during the hearing on November 27, 2024.
The district administration has assured the NGT that long-term plans will be implemented to reduce the effects of pollution. Expanding health facilities and restoring polluted water sources will be a priority.
However, the NGT has asked the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and other concerned officials to submit a status report in the next hearing. Also, reports have been sought from Central Ground Water Authority and National Mission for Clean Ganga on the status of water treatment projects. The Central Pollution Control Board and Uttar Pradesh Control Board have been asked to file replies on the status of tanneries and STPs.
The next hearing in the case will be on January 20, 2025.