Kanpur: All 213 tanneries in Jajmau have been closed with immediate effect after the irrigation channel of the purification plant broke down. This decision has been initiated to save the Ganga from polluted water.
This closure of tanneries will continue till further orders. Violation of closure order will cause registering of FIR and seizure.
The gate of the irrigation channel was shattered on the night of Thursday and Friday. The water started going to the river.
Jal Nigam officials reportedly say if the contractor had made a ramp not to dig adjacent to the irrigation channel, the gate would not have broken and water would not have flowed into the Ganges.
It is estimated that around 20 crore litres of dirty water was thus drained into the Ganges late at night.
District magistrate Visakh G. has ordered an inquiry into it. A team has also been constituted under the leadership of Additional District Magistrate, Nagar, Atul Kumar for monitoring the closed tanneries.
Jal Nigam was told to fix the broken channels at the earliest. As many as 100 tanneries of Jajmau have been closed about a year ago due to overflow.
The remaining 113 have been closed under this new order. In this way, a total of 213 tanneries have been locked.
Tannery operators insist upon possibility of rotting of soaked leather due to the sudden closure of the tanneries.
There are four Sewage Treatment Plants in Jajmau treating 217 crore litres of sewage. Chromium-rich toxic water from tanneries is also treated at the plant with a capacity of 36 MLD.
At Jajmau STP, due to the damage of the irrigation channel gate, the treated water is going into the Ganges from the Air Force drain. A notice has been given to KRMPL. By evening, they have repaired the broken gate and erected its pillars. It will take 24 to 36 hours to dry. The water of the plant will go into the canal, said Gyanendra Chaudhary, Project Manager, Ganga Pollution Control Unit
