Around 350 industrial units in Kanpur have been ordered to stop operations for 46 days to protect the water quality and sanctity of the Ganga during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj.

Officials said the shutdown began on December 31, 2025 and will continue till February 15, 2026. The list includes 288 tanneries and several chemical and other industrial units.

The move is critical because it takes nearly 3 days for water from Kanpur to reach Prayagraj. Any pollution released now can directly affect the river during the festival.

Government teams are carrying out inspections across Kanpur to make sure every unit follows the order. Officers from the Jal Nigam Municipal Corporation and Pollution Control Board are part of the drive.

“Round the clock inspections are being carried out across the district to ensure compliance. Nearly 350 unit owners were intimated a week in advance to shut their operations from December 31. Eight inspection teams have been constituted to monitor the units.”

– Ajit Kumar Suman, Regional Pollution Control Officer, Kanpur

Officials said all unit owners were informed last month through a detailed closure schedule. The plan clearly explained when operations must stop and what rules must be followed during the Mela period.

Dry work is allowed but any wet process that can release effluents into the river is strictly banned.

The 44-day Magh Mela began on January 3, 2026 and will continue till February 15, 2026.