Lok Sabha Question No. 3281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Ground Water Contamination
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: B.V. NAYAK, S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 3281

ANSWERED ON 15.0 3.201 8

## GROUND WATER CONTAMI NATION

3281.

SHRI B.V. NAIK SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  limits  prescribed  by  World  Health  Organisation  (WHO)  for  presence  of  chemic Aluminium, Arsenic, Lead, Uranium, Mercury and Chromium in gro und water, chemical - wise;
- (b)  whether  any  of  the  districts  in  Karnataka  have  higher  concentration  of  the  afor chemicals in ground water and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether any study has been undertaken/completed to gauge the potential health impact due to t presence of these chemicals in ground water and if so, the details and the findings thereo
- (d) the steps taken/being taken to reduce/remove such chemicals in ground water in Karnata

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

- (a)World Health Organization (WHO) does not prescribe any limits for chemicals in ground However,  as  per  WHO  Guid elines  for  Drinking - water  Quality  (GDWQ),  the  following  are recommended safe limit on naturally occurring constituents:
- (b)As per Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of Ministry of Drinking Water Sanitation  (MoDWS)  as  on  01.04.2017,  the  only  Arsenic  affected  habitations  in  Karnatak districts of Mysore (2 habitations) and Raichur (2). Details are placed at A nnexure .

|   S.No | Contaminant in Drinking water   | WHO limits in (µg/l)   |
|--------|---------------------------------|------------------------|
|      1 | Arsenic                         | 10 µg/l                |
|      2 | Chromium                        | 50 µg/l                |
|      3 | Uranium                         | 30 µg/l                |
|      4 | Mercury                         | 6 µg/l                 |
|      5 | Lead                            | 10 µg/l                |

(c)As per a review Article published in Indian Journal of M edical Research, October - 2008, adverse effect  of  high  Arsenic  in  water  include  pigmentation  and  keratosis of  skin.  Besides,  there  can  be various  systemic  manifestations  over  and  above  skin  lesions,  such  as  chronic  lung  dis chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis, liver disea -cirrhotic portal fibrosis a nd other disease like polyneuropathy, peripheral vascular di hypertension  and  ischeamic  heart  disease,  diabetes  mellitus,  non - pitting  oedema  of  feet/hands, weakness and anaemia. Cancer of skin lung, and urinary bladder are important cancers assoc d with chronic arsenic toxicity.

(d)Rural drinking water supply is a State subject.  For improving the coverage of safe dr to rural population, the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation supplements the efforts of the Stat by providing them with technical and financial assistance through the centrally sponsor Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). It is the State Governments who plan, design, app execute and operate & maintain the schemes for providing safe drinking water to rural popula funds provided to the States under NRDWP can be utilized for coverage and tackling wate problems.

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