Bagpat district

Bagpat district, also spelled as Baghpat district, is one of the 75 districts of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, with headquarters at the town of Baghpat. It is within the National Capital Region. Created in 1997, the district has an area of 1,321 square kilometres (510 sq mi). Baghpat has a population of 1,303,048 as of 2011 census.

Baghpat city, after which the district takes its name, derives its name either from vyagprastha ("land of tigers") or from vakyaprasth ("place for delivering speeches"). the city was finally named Baghpat, or Bagpat, during the Mughal era. Starting from a small commercial center known as the Mandi, the city grew in importance after the 1857 mutiny and became the headquarters of Baghpat tehsil. Baghpat has a rich historical significance, particularly in the context of India's struggle for independence. The district provided shelter to several key freedom fighters. Notably, Chandrashekhar Azad sought refuge in Baghpat after the Kakori Train Action, a significant event in the Indian independence movement. Additionally, Subhas Chandra Bose visited Baraut city of Baghpat district in his efforts to recruit new members for his army, the Indian National Army (INA), during his fight against British colonial rule.

Baghpat district was created on 17 September 1997 and named after the erstwhile Baghpat tehsil of Meerut district.

The district has an area of 1,321 square kilometres (510 sq mi). Baghpat town lies on the east bank of the Yamuna River and is within the National Capital Region.

It borders Sonipat and Panipat districts of Haryana; Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Ghaziabad districts of Uttar Pradesh; and the National Capital Territory of Delhi

It is 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Delhi, the national capital, 52 kilometres (32 mi) from Meerut, and 55 kilometres (34 mi) from Ghaziabad.

Bagpat district, along with other districts in western Uttar Pradesh, faces significant challenges regarding water quality. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been addressing these issues, particularly concerning heavy metal contamination in groundwater.

The NGT has criticised local authorities for failing to provide clean drinking water to residents despite multiple directives. Reports indicate dangerously high levels of arsenic in the groundwater, posing severe health risks, including cancer and physical deformities. In the village of Jalalpur, arsenic levels were found to be 40 mg/l, 4000 times the acceptable limit.