--- title: "Groundwater in Uttar Pradesh glows yellow-green from chromium waste" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/up-groundwater-chromium-yellow-green-k74t9 publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Science & Technology published: 2026-08-16T23:00:32.758Z modified: 2026-08-17T01:30:07.536Z language: en-IN --- # Groundwater in Uttar Pradesh glows yellow-green from chromium waste In three UP districts, groundwater shows fluorescent yellow-green coloration due to hexavalent chromium contamination from industrial waste. Health concerns and government findings underscore widespread exposure and longstanding pollution. ## Key takeaways - Groundwater and soil in three Uttar Pradesh districts show hexavalent chromium contamination. - A 2025 government blood study reports 73-96% of tested residents have chromium (VI) above safe levels. - Health risks cited include stomach ulcers, cancers, and organ damage according to the National Green Tribunal. ## What Happened Patches along National Highway 19 between Kanpur Nagar and Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh show a fluorescent yellow-green hue linked to chromium contamination. A culvert off the highway also exhibits yellow leaching, and similar markings exist on a dirt road toward Chhiwali village in Fatehpur. Ground beneath the area suffers from heavy metal contamination, with chromium (VI) leaching into groundwater and contaminating hand pumps. The yellow coloration appears near Kanpur district as well as in Fatehpur and Kanpur Dehat. Residents report health problems that they associate with the contaminated land and water. A resident of Chhiwali village described health issues affecting family members, including abdominal discomfort and regular bowel movements, and noted rashes on hands. A family member noted that a doctor had diagnosed a liver-related issue. The community links water exposure to their ailments. Government data indicate that chromium (VI) contamination affects groundwater in about a dozen areas across Fatehpur, Kanpur Dehat, and Kanpur Nagar. Over the past five years, blood samples from residents in affected areas were collected, and a 2025 government report found that 73-96% of tested individuals had chromium (VI) levels above permissible limits. The National Green Tribunal has highlighted the health risks of chromium (VI), including potential stomach ulcers, cancers, and kidney and liver damage. Chromium (VI) is used in various industries and is bright yellow-green in appearance. Local industry history indicates chromium sulphate production in the area, associated with tanning operations in Kanpur and surrounding regions. An open dump of hazardous chemicals has been depicted in photographs from Fatehpur, illustrating the contamination environment. Historical context cited includes a 2005 Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board identification of six Kanpur Dehat factories dumping polluting waste, which were shut down that year. In 2017, the National Green Tribunal issued an order for the removal of chromium dumps in Kanpur Nagar, as part of ongoing environmental actions described in related reports. ## Why It Matters The exposure to hexavalent chromium through groundwater and soil raises concerns about significant health risks, including gastrointestinal and organ health issues as described by health claims in the article and supported by the NGT’s cautions on chromium (VI). The high share of people with elevated chromium (VI) levels in recent blood tests suggests broad exposure among residents in the affected districts. The historical pattern of industrial waste dumping and subsequent regulatory actions indicate a long-running pollution problem with potential long-term public health implications. ## Background The area has a history of chromium-related industrial activity, including the production of chromium sulphate used in tanning. Chromium (VI) compounds can be produced through industrial processes and are associated with several uses, including electroplating and wood preservation. Government and tribunal actions in 2005 and 2017 reflect attempts to address dumps and leakage from chromium-related waste in Kanpur Dehat and Kanpur Nagar, respectively. The National Green Tribunal has previously described chromium (VI) as a hazardous chemical with health risks, informing the regulatory response described in the article. ## Key Facts - Groundwater in Fatehpur, Kanpur Dehat, and Kanpur Nagar districts shows chromium (VI) contamination. - Hexavalent chromium is linked to the yellow-green coloration observed in groundwater and soil near a highway and villages. - A 2025 government blood-test study found 73-96% of people in affected areas had chromium (VI) levels above permissible limits. - Chromium (VI) is associated with health risks such as stomach ulcers, cancers, and kidney and liver damage per NGT data. - Chromium sulphate production in the region is connected to tanning industries; historical evidence points to dumping and regulatory actions in 2005 and 2017. ## What Happens Next The article notes past regulatory actions—shutdown of certain units in 2005 and 2017 NGT orders for removal of chromium dumps—but it does not specify new or scheduled steps beyond those items. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/up-groundwater-chromium-yellow-green-k74t9 Reported from: Multiple Sources