Area characterisation:
The site is a 35-hectare degraded riverbank zone in the Jajmau industrial belt of eastern Kanpur. It sits at the confluence of the Sisamau Nala and the Ganga, characterized by seasonal inundation and proximity to South Asia's largest tannery cluster.
Objective:
The project aims to implement a "Living Filter System" to naturally sequester heavy metals and reduce biological oxygen demand (BOD). It seeks to achieve measurable biodiversity net gain while providing sustainable livelihoods for marginalized workers.
Context:
Jajmau’s 400+ tanneries discharge high levels of toxic hexavalent chromium and organic waste into the river. Conventional treatment plants frequently face operational gaps, leaving downstream communities and aquatic species like the Gangetic dolphin exposed to severe contamination.
Financing:
The project utilizes a hybrid funding stack including Namami Gange grants and Green Climate Fund (GCF) support. Long-term maintenance is secured through vetiver oil selling, carbon credits and a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) model involving the leather industry CSR grants.
Potential impacts/benefits:
Expected results include 70-85% BOD reduction and 60-75% chromium removal. Ecological benefits include restored habitats for mahseer fish and migratory birds, alongside social gains from microclimate cooling and vetiver-based income.
Actions:
The plan involves constructing Zone 1 sedimentation ponds for pre-treatment, Zone 2 subsurface-flow phytoremediation wetlands, and Zone 3 native riparian forest corridors. These zones use species like Phragmites and Vetiver for natural filtration.
Transferability of result:
The three-zone wetland model is directly applicable to other industrial-riverine cities in the Ganga basin. It offers a scalable blueprint for cities like Agra and Varanasi where small-scale industries intersect with sensitive aquatic ecosystems
Lessons learnt:
Co-designing with local stakeholders is essential to ensure social acceptance. Moving from purely protective to "productive" NbS ensures long-term sustainability by aligning ecological restoration with the economic interests of the community.
Contacts:
Lead partners include the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Kanpur Nagar Nigam, and the IIT Kanpur Research Division. Community engagement is facilitated through the Jajmau Tannery Association and local fisher cooperatives
This 35-hectare intervention in Jajmau, Kanpur, utilizes a multi-stage constructed wetland and riparian forest corridor to remediate industrial tannery effluent. It restores the Ganga’s ecological health through nature-based phytoremediation while fostering community-led economic resilience. This is a concept and invites comments & suggestions from peers.