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Polluted Places: IndiaInitial Site Assessment and PhotosAs part of the activities of the Polluted Place Project under the Poverty and Environment Program, Blacksmith Institute conducted initial assessment of several sites identified to have been severely contaminated with pollution, adversely affecting the environment and health of the poor. Here are the initial findings on the sites and some photographs taken. Jajmau, Kanpur Jajmau tannery sludge  Meeting with stakeholders at Jajmau Kanpur, the largest and most industrialized city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, sits on the banks of the Ganges River, 126 meters above sea level. It is well known for its leather industry and tannery effluents have led to contamination of Kanpur's groundwater. In 2003, the local Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) discovered a plume of hexavalent chromium in the water supply of the Noraiakheda neighborhood, extending from an old chemical manufacturing facility site where toxic sludge was dumped over a decade ago. Five tube-wells have been sunk in the area to measure the extent of the problem. However, until a solution is implemented, local residents continue to drink and bathe in water from poisoned wells. In Jajmau, the lack of treatment facilities has led to tannery sludge being dumped on temporary sites which are exposed to human traffic. There are around 25 villages downstream of a cluster of 354 leather tanneries that have been severely impacted by untreated effluents from the tanneries. Use of the polluted water for irrigation purposes and indiscriminate dumping of toxic tannery sludge has lead to poisoning of the local populace. The CPCB authorities is undertaking background studies and monitoring chromium contamination in the waterways. The local government along with other NGOs has put priority on providing residents of areas fed by polluted pumps with safe drinking water.
GujaratThe Nandesari Industrial Estates is comprised of around 1200 small & large scale dye industries, engineering, textile, pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries. The Mini River, located to the west of Vadodara city passes through the Nandesari Industrial area, with factories on both sides. It was used as a dumping site prior to implementation of hazardous waste laws in 1989. It is no longer legally used for accepting wastewater from industries although illegal dumping by several facilities can still be observed.
Sludge and sediments in the Mini River, which floods during the monsoon season, is highly contaminated with legacy heavy metals and other waste. The Mini River flows into the Mahi River, the second largest river in the state, directly upstream of the intake of water supply for the city of Baroda.
Throughout the Nandesari Industrial Estate, there are estimated to be 10-15 illegally hazardous waste dumpsites, most in residential squatter areas. It is clear that some chemical facilities within the estate avoid dumping at the hazardous waste disposal facility to avoid the Rs.450 dump fee. A review of several illegal dumpsites proved the difficulty of finding the primary source of the waste itself. Thus, responsibility for cleanup is likely to fall on the state and on the community.
Tamil NaduAn estimated 1,500,000 tons of chromate sludge lies untreated in the premises of Tamil Nadu Chromates & Chemicals Limited (TCC) in Ranipet that was shut down in 1996 after regulating activity by the TN PCB. This site lies 120 km southwest of the state capital, Chennai. The wastewater from a common effluent treatment plant receiving effluents from 150 small-scale tanneries flows into a lake which drains into the Palar River 5 km downstream. This river is the source of drinking water supply for the settlements of Ranipet and Vellore.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board is aware of the contamination and has assigned the National Geophysical Research Institute and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute to design and implement remediation plans to clean-up this site. Tiljala/Picnic Gardens, KolkataTiljala lies in eastern Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. About 34 small-scale secondary lead smelters operate here. They are located in close proximity to dense residential areas and open water bodies, thus endangering residents with lead exposure from smelter emissions and dust. According to studies published by the School of Environmental Studies contaminants in the area include lead, arsenic, nickel, chromium and mercury. The concentration of lead in the soil, in dust on leaves and road dust is very high (5,000-20,000 ug/g). Even on dining tables the concentration of lead in dust exceeds 5,000 mg/g. A simple furnace powered by coal is used to melt the old batteries into ingots of pure lead. Lead scrap is stored in pits often open to the elements. Obvious signs of contamination can be observed around the factories; metallic lead ingots can be seen and what appears to be lead dioxide covers the riverbanks.
Edulabad, Andhra PradeshEdulabad is a small, rural village located 25 km from Hyderabad. Though it has no major industry of its own, it suffers from the effects of being downstream from a huge industrial estate in the nearby city of Patancheru, and on the banks of the polluted River Musi.
In 2000, the Hyderabad government built an18-km pipeline to carry industrial effluents from Patancheru to a sewage treatment plant in Amberpet. The pipe runs through Edulabad's municipal sewer system, and it appears that much of the toxic effluents now get mingled with the village's sewage & water and simply run into the river from there.
A freshwater fishing pond that was used by villagers for fishing and drinking has been poisoned beyond use. There is an acute drinking water shortage in the village (villagers travel 20 km to fetch potable water), coupled with dangerous pollution levels in the River Musi. Effluents from the chemical, leather and liquor-manufacturing units in and around Patancheru have contaminated the river and other water sources. |
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A white dust coats the surroundings of the smelters situated next to a pond
