Ganga Cleansed for Devotion, Polluted Again for Industry: Tanneries Shut During Magh Mela, Long-Term Solution Still Missing
By BK Singh
As the annual Magh Mela commenced in Prayagraj on Saturday, authorities ordered the temporary shutdown of nearly 350 industrial units in Kanpur — a move that once again underscores a long-standing contradiction in river management: the Ganga is cleaned for festivals, only to be polluted again once the crowds disperse.
Officials said the directive covers 288 leather tanneries along with several chemical and allied industrial units.
These establishments will remain closed from December 31 to February 15, coinciding with the entire duration of the Magh Mela.
The stated objective is to maintain the water quality and religious sanctity of the Ganga, which flows downstream from Kanpur to Prayagraj.
Toxic Legacy of Tanneries in Kanpur
Kanpur’s tanneries have for decades been identified as one of the largest sources of toxic pollution in the Ganga.
Chromium-laced effluents, untreated chemical waste and sewage from these units routinely enter the river, severely degrading water quality.
Officials admit that it takes nearly three days for the Ganga’s water to travel from Kanpur to Prayagraj, making it essential to halt industrial discharge well in advance of the Mela.
Yet, critics point out that this pollution control mechanism is seasonal and symbolic, not structural.
Once the Magh Mela concludes, the same tanneries are expected to resume operations and discharge waste into the river, returning the Ganga to its polluted state.
Strict Monitoring — But Only for 46 Days
To enforce the temporary shutdown, inspection teams drawn from the Jal Nigam, Municipal Corporation, and Pollution Control Board have been deployed across Kanpur.
According to Ajit Kumar Suman, Regional Pollution Control Officer, eight teams are conducting round-the-clock inspections to ensure compliance.
Industrial unit owners were informed in advance, and a detailed closure roster outlining timelines and conditions was circulated last month.
While “dry work” is permitted, all wet processes — which generate effluents — are strictly prohibited during the Mela period.
An official candidly said the aim was to ensure the “uninterrupted flow and purity of the Ganga during the Magh Mela” — a phrase that has become routine during religious events, but raises uncomfortable questions about what happens once the event ends.
Devotion Draws Millions, Pollution Returns Quietly
The 44-day Magh Mela, which runs from January 3 to February 15, has already witnessed lakhs of devotees taking a holy dip at the Sangam on Paush Purnima.
Authorities estimate that 12 to 15 crore pilgrims will visit the Mela this year, with peak bathing days like Mauni Amavasya expected to draw over 3.5 crore people in a single day.
Major snan days include Paush Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Maghi Purnima and Mahashivratri, prompting elaborate arrangements to ensure safety, cleanliness and crowd management.
Permanent Fix Still Elusive
Despite repeated public outcry over decades, no permanent diversion or foolproof treatment system for tannery waste has been implemented.
Successive governments have announced action plans, effluent treatment plants and river rejuvenation missions, yet the core issue remains unresolved: industrial pollution is paused for religious events, not eliminated.
Environmental activists argue that the annual shutdown during the Magh Mela is an admission that tannery effluents severely contaminate the river, raising the question of why the same standards of purity are not enforced year-round.
Government’s Stand
Reviewing preparations last week, Yogi Adityanath said the Magh Mela is not merely a religious congregation but a living expression of Sanatan tradition, social discipline and administrative excellence.
He stressed that ensuring a safe, clean and well-managed environment for devotees remains the government’s top priority.
However, the contrast remains stark: the Ganga is protected for faith, but compromised for industry.
A River Caught Between Faith and Neglect
As millions gather at the Sangam seeking spiritual purification, the Ganga temporarily flows cleaner — not because pollution has been solved, but because it has been postponed.
Once the tents come down and pilgrims return home, the river is likely to face the same toxic assault it has endured for decades.
Until a permanent, enforceable solution is implemented to divert or fully treat industrial waste from Kanpur’s tanneries, the cycle of festival-time cleanliness and post-festival pollution will continue — leaving the fate of India’s most sacred river hanging between reverence and neglect.
#MaghMela #GangaPollution #KanpurTanneries #SaveGanga #Prayagraj #EnvironmentalCrisis #RiverGanga #FaithVsPollution
