Lok Sabha Question No. 1310 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-22
Subject: Contamination of water table
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1310

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2017

## Contamination of water table

## 1310.   SHRI KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether indiscriminate use of poor quality fugitive pigments by the majority of the production units in the country are posing a major threat of contamination of water table in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise, particularly Andhra Pradesh and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether some States and civic bodies in the country with the support of the revenue and  police  has  banned  washing  of  the  fabric,  on  which  the  pigments  mixed  with kerosene are applied, in some canals in Andhra Pradesh also, if so, the details thereof
- (d) whether it is also a fact that finding no alternative sources, the units are releasing the waste  water  into  the  local  open  storm  water  drains  in  the  towns,  leaving  the  water table contaminated with toxic effluents, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  some  pollution  boards  have  warned  that  the  water  in  which  fabric  with pigments is washed is not advisable to purify for drinking water purpose, if so, the details thereof and violations noticed/action taken thereon; and
- (f) whether  using  chemical  pigments  instead  of  natural  colours  extracted  from  listed plants and herbs is a blatant violation of the GI guidelines, if so, the details thereof and violations noticed/action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (f) Indiscriminate use of poor quality fugitive pigments can lead to contamination of water table.  There are about 42 Kalamkari fabric printing units existing in Pedana village of Krishna District. The cloth is subjected to cowdung treatment and natural washing of dried bleached cloth with water, myrobalan treatment, printing, washing of printed cloths, applying of starch ash application, further color printing, and final washing with soap. Washing is done in irrigation canals. Washing of fabric in canals is not banned by Revenue Department. These units do not come under purview of Andhra Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APPCB) and it  has written to the Revenue Department not to allow Kalamkari units to discharge wash water in to drinking sources.

Textile dyeing has been categorized as Red category and is required to obtain Consent to  Operate  from  concerned  State  Pollution  Control  Board/  Pollution  Control  Committee. Effluent standards for textile sectors have been notified under the provision of Environment (Protection)  Act,  1986  which  inter-alia  has  prescribed  standards  for  Chromium,  Phenolic

Compounds, Colour, etc. Exposure to these chemicals above prescribed limits could affect human health.  In case of direct disposal into rivers and lakes, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs / PCCs) may specify more stringent standards.

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