50% of U.P. industries flout norms: report on Ganga pollution

In its recent report submitted to the National Green Tribunal, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stated that over 50% of the “operational” Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) located across the districts in Uttar Pradesh were not in compliance with the government-stipulated pollution norms.

In July 2022, the Allahabad High Court directed the CPCB to test samples from industries in U.P. 

In compliance with the order, the board then formed 50 teams and undertook a surprise inspection of 1,370 GPIs, 36 sewage treatment plants (STPs) and eight effluent treatment plants (ETPs) in the State, as per the report submitted in relation to an ongoing case on Ganga pollution.

Inspection reports

“Total of 1,370 inspection reports of GPIs (including 858 operational units and 512 non-operational units) have been prepared. Of the 858 operational GP1s, 415 were found complying and 443 are non-compliant with the norms,” the CPCB report dated September 17 read. It also mentioned that, of the 512 non-operational units, eight ETPs were found to be operational.

GPIs are industries that discharge effluents into a watercourse and handle hazardous substances or effluents with a Biochemical Oxygen Demand load of 100 Kg per day or more, as per the CPCB.