Hexavalent chromium taints groundwater in three Uttar Pradesh districts

Groundwater in parts of Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur, Kanpur Dehat, and Kanpur Nagar districts is contaminated with hexavalent chromium, a toxic chemical that turns water fluorescent yellow-green. The contamination stems from hazardous basic chrome sulphate sludge dumped by local factories, which has leached into the soil and water table. Residents near Chhiwali village in Fatehpur report health issues such as stomach pain, liver infections, and skin rashes, which they blame on the polluted water.

State government data reveals that over the last five years, blood samples from affected areas have shown 73-96% of people have above-permissible levels of chromium (VI). A 2025 government report confirms these findings. A National Green Tribunal (NGT) report warns that the chemical can cause stomach ulcers, cancers, and severe kidney and liver damage.

The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board identified six factories in Kanpur Dehat dumping untreated waste in 2005, leading to their closure that year. In 2017, the NGT ordered the removal of chromium dumps in Kanpur Nagar. The government continues to expand the list of affected sites, but cleanup actions often follow only after public complaints or media reports.