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.
