New Delhi, Aug 14 (KNN) A 20 MLD Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) has been approved for Jajmau in Uttar Pradesh at an estimated cost of Rs. 554 crore (phase-1) for the treatment of effluent from tanneries, said Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari.

The river pollution in Kanpur has largely been blamed on waste effluence from the city's tanneries. Keeping in mind the Kumbh Mela to be organised at Sangam in Allahabad from January 15 to March 4 next year, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had reportedly asked officials to close down tanneries in Kanpur's Jajmau between December 15, 2018, and March 15, 2019.

In May this year, Adityanath had asked UP officials to submit weekly reports to his office on the measures taken to check the release of "polluted water" from the tanneries in Jajmau, where 80 per cent of the state's tanneries are located.

The chief minister had also told the officials to engage scientists from IIT Kanpur to evolve methods to reduce pollution caused by the tanneries.

There were as many as 264 tanneries operating in Jajmau out of which 136 had been closed down in recent years. Many leather units have also been shifted out of the city.

Lakhs of litres of waste and garbage are released from tanneries into the Ganga.

The sewage flowing through Wajidpur drain in Jajmau area is a combination of industrial and domestic waste. The industrial waste is primarily from hundreds of tanneries that operate in the area.

A dumping yard has been made in Wajidpur area close to the tanneries where industrial waste including animal skins, chemical and other toxic materials are thrown.

Meanwhile, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has sanctioned 10 projects worth Rs. 2192 crore for Kanpur zone which includes Kanpur town, Unnao, Shuklaganj and Bithoor.

The projects in Pankha (Kanpur), Unnao and Shuklaganj, as also the projects for  rehabilitation and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of the existing STPs at Jajmau & Bingawan have been taken up under Hybrid Annuity Mode with O&M of 15 years and  for the first time, One-Cluster-One-Operator approach has been taken to ensure accountability in operation of STPs and long term sustainability.

In order to improve cleanliness, silt removal and proper upkeep of Ghats in Kanpur and Bithoor zone, NMCG has recently sanctioned a project for regular cleaning of Ghats for 3 years at an estimated cost of Rs. 6.07 crore. A trash skimmer for removal of floating trashis already deployed in Kanpur for river surface cleaning.

Speaking at a ceremony at Chandrasekhar Azad University in Kanpur on Monday, Gadkari said that his Ministry is fully committed to cleaning Ganga and its tributary rivers, and there is no shortage of funds for this purpose. Stressing upon the need to create wealth from waste he said that methane from the sewage in Kanpur can be used for generating Bio-CNG, which can in turn be used for running the city transport.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Uma Bharti, MoS, MOWR, RD & GR, Dr. Satya Pal Singh, Kanpur MP Murli Manohar and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

In Kanpur town, the current sewage generation is estimated at 375 MLD which is expected to increase to 460 MLD by 2035. Kanpur town already has an existing sewage treatment capacity of 457 MLD (Jajmau-205 MLD, Bingawan-210 MLD and Sazari-42 MLD) whereas 15 MLD STP is under construction at Baniyapurwa.