Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Dec 11 (IANS): All industrial units in Kanpur have been asked to shut production for three days before each bathing day during the Magh Mela, scheduled to be held in January-February.
Seven teams have been constituted to check the functioning of tanneries in Kanpur and keep a tab on them during the upcoming Magh Mela.
The UP Pollution Control Board has issued a roster for all industrial units which are likely to pollute water during the Magh Mela.
The Mela will be held from January 14 to March 11 and will have six bathing days.
According to Anil Mathur, an official of regional pollution control board (Kanpur), "Each of seven teams will be led by an additional city magistrate, and will consist of one member each from the state pollution control board, Ganga pollution control unit, Jal Nigam and the police department."
Six teams would be deputed in Jajmau area that has maximum tannery units and one team would be deputed at the Panki industrial.
Mathur said that besides the Magh Mela roster, earlier schedule for the operation of tanneries and other units would also be enforced.
According to the earlier roster, tanneries attached to pumping station no. 1 and 2 will operate with 50 per cent capacity in the first fifteen days, and tanneries attached to pumping station no. 3 and 4 will operate in the next 15 days.
Anand Kumar, regional pollution control board officer of Kanpur Dehat and in-charge of Kanpur office, said the teams will check the industrial units and their discharge from time to time and take action in case of violation.
The first bathing day in the Magh Mela is on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), and hence, all units will be shut from January 11 to 14. Likewise, the second bathing date is on January 28 (Poush Purnima) and units will be shut from January 25 to 28.
The third bathing date is on February 11 (Mauni Amavasya) and industrial units will be shut from February 8 to 11. Fourth bathing day will be on February 16 and units will be closed from February 13 to 16. Fifth and sixth holy bathing days will be on February 27 (Maghi Purnima) and March 11 respectively, and hence, units will be closed from February 24 to 27, and from March 8 to 11.