Toxic chromium levels found in Nashik groundwater threaten Kumbh Mela pilgrims

A recent groundwater survey in Ambad, a suburb of Nashik, detected acute toxic contamination, with hexavalent chromium levels measured at 50.3 mg/L—more than a thousand times the permissible limit set by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People reported that the polluted water is causing skin ulcers, rashes, swollen lymph nodes and other ailments among locals, including reports of miscarriages.

The contaminated runoff is entering the Godavari River through drainage channels, raising concerns for the upcoming Kumbh Mela, which will draw millions of pilgrims to the riverbanks. The likely source is industrial discharge from electroplating, metal-finishing and paint factories within the Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) zone. Despite repeated complaints, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has issued only one routine notice and has not released its testing results, leaving the community uninformed about the hazard.