High levels of chromium, mercury in residents, NGT directs U.P. govt. to map affected people

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 Principal Bench of the NGT, comprising chairperson Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad, gave the order in a matter related to factories dumping chromium in Rania, Kanpur Dehat, Rakhi Mandi, Kanpur Nagar, and nearby areas which has resulted in contamination of groundwater, depriving local people access to drinking water.

“The above chart reflects that in high percentage of persons presence of Chromium above standard level has been detected and even persons with Mercury above standard level have been found (sic),” stated the order dated November 7.

As per the chart mentioned in the order, 95.7% of the 514 people tested in Kanpur Nagar had chromium above the standard level in their blood samples, and the figure stood at 71.9% for Kanpur Dehat (214 people tested) and 85.96% for Fatehpur (171 people tested).

“The State authorities, especially the Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh, and Secretary, Health, Govt. of U.P. are directed to provide a timeline within two weeks in respect of the steps that will be taken by the State authorities to complete the process of mapping the entire area and find out the affected villages/ULBs [urban local bodies] /districts,” the order said.

“They will also disclose the approximate number of the affected persons, the medical facilities available at the District/ULB/Village level including the health centers, doctors, paramedical staff available in those health centres, the facilities available in those health centres and the nearby labs and distance from that lab for carrying out the blood and other sample analysis,” the order stated.

The NGT said the amicus curiae in the case, advocate Katyayni, has informed the court that initially the issue was confined to Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat and Fatehpur, but the affected area is increasing.

“Initially the focus was on Rakhi Mandi, Afeem Kothi and Juhi Bamburiya (Rakhi Mandi), but… the contamination has been found in Gangaganj Panki, Swaraj Nagar, Ratanpur Colony, Tejab Mill Campus, Bajpai Nagar, Maiku Purwa, Rooma, Kishanpur, etc. also,” the order said.

The amicus curiae also informed the court that many recommendations accepted by the State government as per an earlier order in the case dated July 1 has not been implemented by the State, including improving government hospital infrastructure to include multi-speciality diagnostic facilities and a survey of people/cattle/food chain to check degree of contamination and create an effective remediation plan, as per the order.

“The mapping will include food chain contamination, surface water and groundwater contamination, and air contamination analysis. The timeline will also be given for fully implementing the 22 recommendations which have been noted in the order dated 01.07.2025,” the order said.