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Toxic Contamination Plagues Uttar Pradesh, Authorities Ordered to Map Affected Areas
13 Nov
Summary
- NGT directs UP govt to map people affected by chromium and mercury contamination
- 95.7% of 514 people tested in Kanpur Nagar had chromium above standard levels
- Contamination found in multiple areas, not just Kanpur Nagar
In a concerning development, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to map the total number of people affected by heavy metal contamination, particularly chromium and mercury, in Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur, Fatehpur, and nearby areas of the state.
The order comes in response to the issue of factories dumping chromium in Rania, Kanpur Dehat, Rakhi Mandi, Kanpur Nagar, and surrounding areas, which has resulted in the contamination of groundwater and deprived local residents of access to clean drinking water.
According to the data presented, a staggering 95.7% of the 514 people tested in Kanpur Nagar had chromium levels above the standard, while the figure stood at 71.9% for Kanpur Dehat (214 people tested) and 85.96% for Fatehpur (171 people tested). The NGT has also noted that the affected area is increasing, with contamination found in several other locations, including Gangaganj Panki, Swaraj Nagar, and Ratanpur Colony.
The state authorities, including the Chief Secretary and the Health Secretary, have been directed to provide a timeline within two weeks for the steps they will take to complete the mapping process and determine the exact number of affected villages, urban local bodies, and districts. They must also disclose the available medical facilities and resources to address this crisis.
