Mega preparations are underway in Kanpur to keep the Ganga clean ahead of the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has devised a comprehensive strategy to tackle the problem. Amit Mishra, regional officer of the board, stated that the effort will focus on biological treatment of 14 Kanpur drains that discharge into the Ganga.

For nearly a decade, Kanpur residents have been concerned about Ganga pollution caused by untreated trash. The sealing of the Sisamau drain was portrayed as a critical step in Ganga cleanup operations. During the previous Kumbh in 2019, strict precautions were implemented against tanneries to prevent trash from contaminating the river before the big bathing festivals.

A 20 MLD combined effluent treatment plant (CETP) has been developed to manage tannery effluent, and it will run at full capacity. Furthermore, the Jal Nigam (rural) inspects all sewage treatment facilities (STPs) in the city and reports to the district magistrate every 15 days. As the Mahakumbh approaches, the UPPCB is preparing to address the discharge of sewage and industrial trash into the Ganga. The initiative includes the biological treatment of 14 drains, ranging in size from small to large.

The Jal Nigam is actively checking all STPs and pumping stations in Kanpur to determine the present condition of pumps, their requirements, and the necessity for standby pumps. The availability of backup generator sets is also being assessed.

Furthermore, tanneries will receive a revised roster by the end of November, which they must carefully comply with. There are currently 250 tanneries in operation, and the roster requires 15 days of work for each unit. Officials have not ruled out suspending tannery operations until after the Mahakumbh, as they did during the Ardh Kumbh.