'Chor Nala' in Jajmau Sending Dirty Water Straight into the Ganga, Pollution Board Orders Probe; Questions Raised on Namami Gange Work

An untapped "chor nala" near a plant in Jajmau is reportedly releasing black wastewater into the Ganga. Locals say the drain was never tapped and that water goes directly to the river when the STP is shut. A 20 MLD plant and the JETATA office are about 1 km away; a CCTV camera is at the spot. UPPCB has sent a team from Lucknow to inspect. A temple mahant has alleged threats and collusion; these are unproven allegations. Crores of rupees have been spent over the years to clean the Ganga in Kanpur. Yet a fresh report from Jajmau has once again raised serious questions about how much of that work is actually reaching the ground. According to local reports published on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, a so-called "chor nala" (hidden or illegal drain) near a plant in Jajmau is carrying dirty, black water directly into the Ganga every day. The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has now started an inquiry into the matter. What was found The drain came to light on Tuesday during an on-ground check by a news agency team. As per the report: The drain passes through a wooded area and runs all the way to the Ganga. Black, dirty water from this drain was seen falling into the river. Hundreds of litres of wastewater are said to be reaching the Ganga through this route daily. Local residents Noor, Rafiq and Suresh told reporters that this drain has never been tapped. They said that whenever the sewage treatment plant (STP) is shut, the water goes directly into the river. The report also noted that a 20 MLD (million litres per day) plant and the office of JETATA are located roughly one kilometre from the drain. A CCTV camera is also said to be installed at the spot. This has led many locals to ask how such a discharge could go unnoticed for so long. What the Pollution Control Board said UPPCB Regional Officer Ajit Kumar Suman has said that a team has come from Lucknow and has been sent to the site for inspection. The findings of this inspection are expected to decide what action will be taken. Officials not available, allegations from a temple mahant During the check, JETATA Secretary Rizwan Nadri and AGM Shashi Mohan Singh were not found at the office. Staff said Nadri was busy at a wedding function and Shashi Mohan Singh was out in the field. Separately, Mahant Digambar Ajab Anandpuri Maharaj of the Jungleshwar Baba Hanuman Temple in Jajmau has released a video on social media. In the video, he has said that he raised his voice against the dirty water and has since received threats. He has also alleged that a JETATA official is hand-in-glove with tannery operators. These are allegations at this stage. No official finding has been announced so far, and kanpur.live will update this story once the inspection report is made public. What is JETATA? JETATA stands for the Jajmau Tanneries Effluent Treatment Association. It is the body linked to the management of the common effluent treatment system that serves the tannery cluster in Jajmau. Tanneries release wastewater that contains chemicals such as chromium, which is harmful if it reaches the river untreated. That is why the treatment system in Jajmau is considered one of the most critical pollution control points on the Ganga in Kanpur. Why Jajmau is so important for the Ganga Kanpur has long been one of the most closely watched cities on the Ganga because of its industrial footprint. Jajmau, on the eastern side of the city, is home to a large cluster of leather tanneries. Over the decades, untreated tannery effluent and city sewage have been among the biggest sources of pollution in this stretch of the river. Under the Namami Gange programme, several major steps have been taken in Kanpur over the years. The most famous example is the tapping of the Sisamau nala, which was once one of the largest open drains flowing into the Ganga in the city. New sewage treatment capacity has also been added, and tanneries have faced strict rules, including closures during major events like the Kumbh. Because of this history, any new report of an untapped drain is taken seriously. Even one active drain can undo part of the benefit gained from years of work. Key questions that need answers This report raises several questions that residents, environmentalists and devotees are now asking: How long has this drain been active? If locals say it was never tapped, why was it missed in surveys? Who is responsible for monitoring? With a treatment plant and an office nearby, and a CCTV camera at the spot, how did this continue? What happens when the STP is shut? If wastewater is diverted to the river during shutdowns, what backup system exists? Is there collusion? The allegations made by the mahant need a fair and independent probe. What action will follow? Will the drain be tapped immediately, and will anyone be held accountable? What happens next The UPPCB inspection is the next step. Depending on the findings, action could include tapping or plugging the drain, notices to the responsible bodies, and penalties under environmental laws. If allegations against any official are found to have substance, departmental action is also possible. Why this matters to every Kanpur resident The Ganga is not just a river for Kanpur. It is the city's water source, its religious centre, and a part of its identity. Ghats like Sarsaiya Ghat, Massacre Ghat and Siddhnath Ghat see daily worship and bathing. Pollution in the river affects health, fishing, farming on the banks, and the city's image. Citizens can play a part too. If you notice an open drain flowing into the river, you can report it to the Pollution Control Board or the Nagar Nigam, and share photos with the date and location. Public pressure has often been the reason drains get tapped faster. kanpur.live will follow up once the inspection team's findings are released. A short history of Ganga clean-up in Kanpur The effort to clean the Ganga at Kanpur is decades old. Programmes like the Ganga Action Plan in the 1980s and later the Namami Gange Mission focused heavily on this city because of its size and industrial activity. Work has included building sewage treatment plants, laying interceptor sewers, tapping large open drains and upgrading effluent treatment for the tannery cluster. Much progress has been reported over the years, and several stretches of the river have seen improvement. But experts have often pointed out that the success of such systems depends on daily operation and monitoring, not just on building infrastructure. A single untapped drain, or a treatment plant that runs only part of the time, can quietly undo the gains. Why untreated effluent is dangerous Tannery wastewater can carry chromium compounds, salts and organic waste. When such water enters the river without proper treatment, it can harm aquatic life, reduce oxygen in the water and affect the quality of water used downstream. Communities living along the banks, including farmers who use river water for irrigation, are among the first to feel the impact. Mixed sewage also carries bacteria that pose a risk to people bathing at ghats. The role of monitoring Pollution control bodies depend on regular sampling, surprise inspections and public complaints. Online monitoring systems and CCTV are meant to make violations harder to hide. The presence of a camera near this drain, as mentioned in the report, is why locals are now asking whether the monitoring was actually being checked. Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What is the 'chor nala' in Jajmau? It is a drain near a plant in Jajmau that, as per local reports, carries dirty water through a wooded area directly into the Ganga. Q2. Has any action been taken? The UPPCB has started an inquiry. Regional Officer Ajit Kumar Suman said a team from Lucknow has been sent to inspect the site. Q3. What is JETATA? The Jajmau Tanneries Effluent Treatment Association, linked to managing tannery effluent treatment in Jajmau. Q4. What allegations have been made? A local temple mahant has alleged threats and claimed that a JETATA official is colluding with tannery operators. These are allegations and have not been proven. Q5. How can citizens report such drains? Residents can complain to the UP Pollution Control Board or the Kanpur Nagar Nigam with photos, date and location. Q6. What is Namami Gange? It is the central government's flagship programme for cleaning and rejuvenating the Ganga, including sewage treatment and drain tapping.