Lok Sabha Question No. 3097 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Chemicals in Vegetables
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: YERRAM VENKATA SUBBAREDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3097 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21/03/2017

## CHEMICALS IN VEGETABLES

## 3097. SHRI Y.V. SUBBA REDDY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k ,oa fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that ICAR has found high quantity of arsenic content in potato,  brinjal,  arum,  amaranth,  radish,  lady's  finger,  cauliflower,  etc.,  recently which affected more than 7 crore people and more than 3 lakhs of people are also affected with arsenic-related diseases due to use of arsenic-laden water for irrigation, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also true that 100 out of 640 districts in the country are affected with arsenic contamination/poisoning;
- (c) if so, the action taken by the Government thereon;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  also  aware  that  crops  in  48  mandals  out  of  56 mandals  in  Prakasam  district  of  Andhra  Pradesh  have  been  affected  due  to  high quantity of fluoride and arsenic in ground water; and
- (e) if  so,  the  corrective  steps  taken  by  the  Government in this  regard  including short term and long term measures?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k ,oa fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

## (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) & (b): Studies conducted by Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, Kalyani  under  ICAR  funded  projects  during  2006-2012  revealed  that  there  is considerable accumulation of arsenic in vegetables grown with arsenic contaminated groundwater. It has been found that edible parts of leafy and underground vegetables contain higher arsenic as compared to fruit bearing vegetables.

As per 19 th   Report of Committee of Estimates (2016-17), Ministry of Water Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation,  nearly  70.4  million population  is  affected  with  arsenic  contamination  and  2  to  3  lakhs  of  confirmed cases of arsenic illness have been identified.

The arsenic contamination in groundwater, presently, spread over 96 districts in 12 States.

(c) The ICAR has recommended conjunctive use of fresh surface water and poor quality  groundwater  along  with  other  agronomic  measures  such  as  application  of vermi-compost,  FYM,  Green  manure,  and  Zinc  sulphate  to  minimize  the  adverse impact of irrigation with arsenic rich groundwater.

Remedial measures undertaken in arsenic contaminated areas include sharing of groundwater quality data for creating awareness; exploratory drilling carried out for  tapping  contamination  free  aquifers  in  the  contamination  affected  areas;  and undertaking  the  National  Aquifer  Mapping  Programme  including  construction  of tube wells for tapping arsenic safe deeper aquifer.

(d) Yes,  Madam.  As  per  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB),  Ministry  of Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation,  groundwater  of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh contains fluoride above the permissible limit (1.5 µg L -1 ) but arsenic concentration is within the safe limit.

(e) Measure  such  as  recharging  the  groundwater  by  rainwater  harvesting  for irrigation purpose need to be practiced to improve the groundwater quality in this area.

The Government has formulated a National Water Quality Sub-Mission for focus funding to schemes meant for mitigating arsenic and fluoride contamination on  cost  sharing  basis  between  centre  and  state.  Under  this  mission,  the  goal  is  to provide  safe  drinking  water  to  arsenic  and  fluoride  affected  habitations  from sustainable water sources.

*******