NGT seeks to reduce pollution in Ganga from tanneries in realistic manner

New Delhi, Sep 29: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to take remedial measures to prevent pollution in the Ganga river from tanneries in a "realistic manner".

"UPPCB needs to monitor remedial measures to prevent pollution from tanneries in a realistic manner, issuing guidelines, roster operations, sealing of drums/pedals, cutting down production capacities, closing the tanneries till compliance is achieved," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (retd), said in a recent order.

"We may consider the situation of pollution of River Ganga due to untreated/partially treated effluents (sewage and industrial) being discharged thorough irrigation canal at Jajmau," the order said.

The bench, also comprising Judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal, and Expert members Prof A Senthil Vel and Dr Afroz Ahmad was dealing a matter with two issues of water pollution in Jajmau, an industrial suburb on the banks of Ganga.The first issue relates to the chromium dumpings at Rania, Kanpur Dehat and Rakhi Mandi, Kanpur Nagar which have been in existence since 1976 and contaminating ground water adversely affecting their health and depriving the inhabitants of access to drinking water.

Another issue is continuing water pollution by tanneries discharging untreated industrial effluents, containing toxic chromium into the irrigation canal through an inadequately functioning effluent treatment plant at Jajmau.

The green court note that, on both the issues, some progress has been achieved but still chromium dump remains and effluent continues to be let out through drains.

"Thus, it is clear that health risk remains on account of delayed inaction. UPPCB with other concerned agencies have to ensure that no waste is lying at any other site," the order said.

The green court also directed the state pollution body and the Central Pollution Control Board to immediately find out suitability of setting up of pilot plant model to treat chromium by way of setting up of a filtration process and application of biotechnology to remove chromium as being done at other places for removal of arsenic/fluoride within three months.