Industrial units in Kanpur to shut on the eve of bathing days in Magh mela

Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has issued a roster for all industrial units which are likely to pollute water during the Magh mela, to stop all production activities for three days, before each bathing day at the festival. According to the cultural calendar, the Mela will be held from January 14 to March 11 and will have six bathing days in total.

UP to check water contamination ahead of Magh mela 2021

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The Magh mela is a festival which witnesses several fairs in the Hindu month of Magha, every year, which corresponds to the Gregorian months of January-February. This festival is held near water banks and tanks, in the vicinity of Hindu temples. This annual festivity is what elevates the grandeur of the auspicious Kumbh mela, once in every 12 years, when the sun, moon and the planet Jupiter align astronomically.

The UP Pollution Control Board has constituted seven teams to check the functioning of tanneries in Kanpur and keep a tab on them during the upcoming Magh mela. About six of these teams would be deputed in the Jajmau area that has maximum tannery units, while the last one will be deployed at the Panki industrial site in the city.

According to an official of the regional pollution control board, Kanpur, "Each of seven teams will be led by an additional city magistrate, and will consist of one member each from the state pollution control board, Ganga pollution control unit, Jal Nigam and the police department." He also added that besides the Magh mela roster, the earlier schedule, authorising the operations of tanneries and other production units would also be enforced.

According to the earlier roster, tanneries attached to pumping station no. 1 and 2 will operate with 50 per cent capacity in the first fifteen days, and tanneries attached to pumping station no. 3 and 4 will operate in the next 15 days. The regional pollution control board officer of Kanpur Dehat and in-charge of Kanpur office said the teams will check the industrial units and their discharge from time to time and take action in case of violation.

Know the schedule of bathing days at Magh mela

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The first bathing day in the Magh mela is on January 14, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and hence, all units will be shut from January 11 to 14. Likewise, the second bathing date is on January 28 on Poush Purnim, so units will once again be shut from January 25 to 28. The third bathing date is on Mauni Amavasya, on Feb 11, for which the production will remain shut from February 8 to 11. The fourth bathing day will be on February 16 and units will be closed from February 13 to 16.

Fifth and sixth holy bathing days will be on February 27, marking Maghi Purnima and March 11 respectively and hence, tanneries will shut down production from February 24 to 27 and then from March 8 to 11. This shut down will buffer the discharge of toxic waste discharged by the city tanneries, ensuring that people attending and participating in the ritual are not exposed to the hazardous wastes released by the production units.

- With inputs from IANS