NASHIK — First complaint September 20 — yellow water from borewell in Dattanagar, Maruti Sankul, Ambad MIDC. Resident thought iron. South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) sent sample to NABL lab.
Result October 8 — total chromium 50.5 mg/L, hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) 50.3 mg/L. Bureau of Indian Standards IS 10500:2012 limit for total chromium — 0.05 mg/L, no relaxation. That is 1,006 times over. MPCB's own sample October 11 — 45 mg/L, confirms magnitude, plus sulphate, chloride high.
MPCB records show it knew of chromium in Ambad groundwater since 2011 — 15 years, no source identification, no penal action, no targeted cleanup, per SANDRP memorandum to CM, CPCB, NMC.
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Ambad MIDC — 1,200 units — electroplating, metal finishing, paint, biggest users of Cr(VI) for hard corrosion-resistant coating. Activists Roshan Kedar, Rajesh Pandit documented for years — bright yellow borewells, dying vegetation along nallah, skin lesions. Systemic discharge into storm drains feeding Nandini River, Nandini meets Godavari 7 km downstream, at Tapovan where Kumbh Mela ghats being built.
Citizen-led testing found Cr(VI) beyond permissible limits not only in borewells but in nallah joining Nandini, and at Nandini-Godavari confluence. Plume mobile — after closing 17 units, still found in flowing water, indicating soil aquifer locked source.
Health — NMC screened 248 people, 109 diagnosed skin conditions, allergies. SANDRP photos — corrosive chemical ulcers, lymph node inflammation, trauma in young children. Two women reported miscarriages — link not established scientifically yet. Continued use for washing, bathing due to lack of alternative supply.
Comparison with Hinkley — Erin Brockovich case 1996 — PG&E used hexavalent chromium as rust inhibitor in cooling towers, dumped into unlined ponds 1952-66, plume 2 miles wide, 6 miles long, groundwater 0.58 mg/L max — 10 times limit, settlement $333 mn for 634 plaintiffs. Hinkley now ghost town, 2016 NYT. Nashik — 50.3 mg/L — 87 times Hinkley level. Hinkley population 2,000, Nashik affected residential pocket 15,000 plus downstream 20 lakh city population.
Kumbh angle — Dhvajarohan flag hoisting October 31, 2026 marks commencement of Simhastha Kumbh Mela. First Amrit Snan August 2, 2027. Expected 15-20 crore pilgrims over 18 months, 4-5 times 2015 crowd. Godavari flow at Ramkund historically 1.5 m deep during snan. Will pilgrims dip in water receiving Cr(VI) plume? Cr(VI) is IARC Group 1 human carcinogen — inhalation lung cancer, ingestion stomach lesions, dermal ulcer. No amount supposed in water — BIS says not detectable ideally.
Authorities — MPCB closure notice to 17 electroplating units, tanker supply, blood urine tests planned. NMC Commissioner, District Collector notified October 2. Four weeks elapsed, no published full lab reports, no plume mapping, no health registry, no FIR under Water Act.
SANDRP demands — institutional transparency, publish all MPCB NMC lab data, aquifer mapping with 100 borewells, source control with chemical reduction (ferrous sulfate converting Cr(VI) to less toxic Cr(III)), containment, long-term monitoring, alternative piped water, not merely building ghats.
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Question user asks — Do we celebrate toxic rivers? Do we simply build ghats? Answer — Kumbh ghat construction budget Rs 2,800 crore, Godavari rejuvenation Rs 1,000 crore, yet chromium cleanup budget zero. Building concrete ghats without stopping yellow water upstream is performative piety.
Clean Godavari is not ritual, it's Cr(VI) = 0.
*Tags:* #Nashik #Chromium #AmbadMIDC #HexavalentChromium #Godavari #KumbhMela #SANDRP #MPCB #ErinBrockovich #Hinkley