News in Frames | Toxic water runs deep
Unchecked industrial waste pileup has affected at least three villages in Uttar Pradesh, where yellow-coloured groundwater and patches of yellow-green topsoil — indicators of chromium contamination — have been reported in several areas
For decades, improper industrial waste disposal has tainted groundwater with hazardous hexavalent chromium in three districts of Uttar Pradesh, putting villagers at risk of unsafe water and severe health issues. The contamination is evident in the bright yellow glow of handpump water in various villages, as well as the presence of yellow-green earth, indicating illegal waste dumps beneath the surface.
According to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), chromium dumping began in 1976, with the largest dump located in Rania, Kanpur Dehat, containing 62,225 metric tonnes. This waste was only removed about a year ago after receiving NGT orders and missing deadlines.
Multiple blood tests conducted over the past five years revealed that 73%-96% of villagers' blood samples had hexavalent chromium levels exceeding safe limits, as reported by the government in 2025. Despite years of complaints and legal action, government efforts to identify contaminated areas, supply safe drinking water, and provide healthcare, as well as clean up toxic waste, have been slow and insufficient.
Alarmingly, many villages with contaminated groundwater or chemical dumps are not included in the State government's list of affected areas, suggesting that the true extent of the contamination is much larger than currently acknowledged, and thousands more individuals may be at risk.
The consequences of this contamination are evident in the damaged nails and health issues of villagers, as well as the presence of stagnant, yellowish-green water near affected areas. Warning signs and photographs of toxic waste piles further illustrate the severity of the problem. The ongoing dumping of hazardous chromium sulphate has led to the erosion of soil cover in several regions, further exacerbating the issue.
Villagers continue to draw water from handpumps that appear to be contaminated with hexavalent chromium, highlighting the ongoing risks they face.
The government's response to this crisis has been criticized as inadequate, with many villages not even recognized as affected by the government's own criteria. The proximity of the Ganges River to these affected villages adds another layer of concern, as the river could potentially carry the toxic chromium contamination further downstream.
Despite years of complaints and legal action, the government's efforts to address the contamination have been slow and insufficient, leaving many villagers vulnerable to its devastating effects.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
