Cpcb Team To Inspect Ganga Discolouring

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is sending a team of experts to inspect the cause of the discolouring of the Ganga river water near Kanpur. Preliminary investigation suggests discharge of chemical effluents from the nearby upstream industries is responsible for it.

Coloured water in the river is appearing near the Bhairavghat pumping station. A number of industries including Vam Organics and chemicals Ltd are located nearby in the Gajraula industrial area. The matter came up for a high level discussion at a meeting organised by the CPCB last week. Representatives of the concerned industries were present. They were called upon to take immediate remedial steps to stop untreated effluents entering the river.

The industries were further called upon to submit their respective pollution control programmes on effluent treatment to the CPCB within a week. The CPCB has asked the Uttar Pradesh PCB to issue directions under the environment ( Protection) Act, 1986, to the concerned industries. The Act provides for stringent measures in the event of non-compliance. The team is due to visit the place in the middle of August. The matter is being viewed seriously because untreated effluent discharge, discolouring the water, degrades the water quality and is harmful to health.