Green Tribunal flags Mercury, Chromium in drinking water supply to 3 UP districts

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised alarm over the presence of toxic heavy metals, mercury and chromium in the drinking water supply of Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, and Fatehpur districts in Uttar Pradesh. The tribunal expressed serious concern about the scale of contamination and its impact on public health.

Residents in the affected districts have reported severe health issues. However, only around 7,000 people have undergone medical testing so far. The NGT termed this figure grossly inadequate, considering the size of the population at risk.

The tribunal also pulled up local authorities for submitting inadequate and misleading reports on the contamination levels. The NGT further directed AIIMS Delhi to carry out a detailed health survey and water testing across the three districts and submit a comprehensive report within three months.

The pollution poses grave health risks, including neurological damage and chronic illnesses, underscoring the urgent need for systematic health surveys, proper diagnostic facilities, and effective medical treatment interventions in these districts.

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