Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In Re : Water Pollution by Tanneries at Jajmau, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh With In Re : Water Pollution at Rania, Kanpur Dehat & Rakhi Mandi, Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh dated 27/09/2019 control of pollution in River Ganga. The matter has been taken up on receipt of two reports dated 25.09.2019 and 26.09.2019 from Justice Arun Tandon, former Judge of the Allahabad High Court, who has been appointed as a head of a Committee to oversee the compliance of the order of the Tribunal for control of pollution in River Ganga.

The first report relates to Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh around the area of Chromium dump at Rania, Kanpur Dehat and Rakhi Mandi, Kanpur Nagar Water Pollution at Rania, Kanpur Dehat and Rakhi Mandi, Kanpur. The dump of hazardous Waste has been in existence since 1976 and inspite of repeated orders, the authorities have failed to ensure its shifting. The water collected by the Committee from the handpumps/borewell of the areas was coloured and unfit for drinking. The presence of chromium in the underground water in village Khanchandpur is many times the permissible limit. Use of such quality of water by human being and animals is dangerous not only to the existing residents but also for the future generations to come.

The second report relates to Water Pollution by Tanneries at Jajmau, Kanpur. Apart from the fact that incorrect information was given to the Committee appointed by the Tribunal, the report also mentions that vide order dated 08/08/2019, Manoj Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Uttar Pradesh allowed the Jal Nigam, Kanpur to discharge effluents into River Ganga, pending cleaning of the trunk sewer. Such discharge is still continuing. 43 MLD STP was non-functional and may require one year to be functional. Industrial effluent to the extent of 10-12 MLD received in CETP was being pumped into irrigation canal untreated.

The NGT directs the Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh to ensure supply of drinking water to the residents Rania, Kanpur Dehat and Rakhi Mandi, Kanpur Nagar (area around the chromium dump). Further, the Chief Secretary has been asked to ensure that untreated sewage is not discharged in river Ganga and "pending a permanent solution, at least temporary arrangement by way of phytoremediation, bio-remediation or any other technology is done to disinfect/treat water before the same is discharged into the River Ganga." And requisite action taken against the Principal Secretary, Urban Development, UP , UP Jal Nigam, State PCB for their illegal action in permitting discharge of untreated sewage and effluents directly into River Ganga.