Lok Sabha Question No. 3165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-11
Subject: Mercury and Cyanide in Well Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Behanan Benny

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO .3165

ANSWERED ON 11 .0 7.2019

## MERCURY AND CYANIDE IN WELL WATER

## 3165. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  complaints  about  the  dangerous  levels  of  mer cyanide detected in well water and other water sources near gold manufacturing industries i including Kerala;

- (b) if so, the details thereof, State - wise;
- (c) whether the Government has responded to this crisis and taken any effective measures; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) to (d) As per information provided by Kerala State Pollution Control Board, petition from r Kureekkad Town Residents Association, Chottanikkara, Ernakulam district, Kerala was received aga M/s Vijay Industries, Kureekkad, P.O.Ernakulam on 16.11.2018 and 23.11.2018.

Based on the complaint received, the Board had conducted several inspections and collected and soil samp les for analysis. Mercury and Cyanide were detected in the nearby wells and so closure order was issued on 29.06.2019 to the unit.

Furthermore, Under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme, Central Pollution Control B association wi th State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees monitors ground 1153 locations in the country. These ground water locations are monitored on half yearly b general  and  micro  pollutants  (metals  and  pesticides)  parameters which  includes  mercury  and  cyanide. Groundwater monitoring is carried out at 34 locations in Kerala.

Available water quality monitoring data of groundwater locations in Kerala revealed that al having cyanide content are 'Below Detection Limit (BDL)' which is complying with CN standard of 0.05 mg/l BIS standards for drinking water, (IS 10500:2012). Information regarding cyanide level the year 2017 is given in Annexure I.

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## ANNEXURE - I

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (A) TO  (D)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3165 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK S ABHA ON 11.07.2019 REGARDING ' MERCURY AND CYANIDE IN WELL WATER '.

|   STATION CODE | GROUNDWATER LOCATION S IN KERALA MONITORE D UNDER NWQMP   | CYANIDE BIS STANDAR D 0.05 MG/L   |
|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|             19 | WELL AT ELOOR, KERAL A                                    | BDL                               |
|             22 | WELL AT CHUNGAPALLY, KERALA                               | BDL                               |
|             35 | WELL AT PUNALUR, KER ALA                                  | BDL                               |
|           1581 | PAPPANAMKODE, THIRUV ANANTHAPURAM, KERALA                 | BDL                               |
|           1582 | NEDUMANGAD, THIRUVAN ANTHAPURAM, KERALA                   | BDL                               |
|           1583 | KUNDARA, KOLLAM DIST T. , KERALA                          | BDL                               |
|           1584 | CHERTHALA, ALLEPPY, KERALA                                | BDL                               |
|           1585 | VYTTILA, ERNAKULAM D ISTT. , KERALA                       | BDL                               |
|           1586 | EDAYAR ERNAKULAM DIS TT., KERALA                          | BDL                               |
|           1587 | KALAMASSERY ERNAKULA M DISTT. , KERALA                    | BDL                               |
|           1588 | PUNKUNNAM TRISSUR DI STT. , KERALA                        | BDL                               |
|           1589 | MALAPURAM , KERALA                                        | BDL                               |
|           1590 | MAVOOR, KOZHIKKODE D ISTT. , KERALA                       | BDL                               |
|           1591 | KANNUR (MUNICIPALITY ) KANNUR DISTTM , KE RALA            | BDL                               |
|           1592 | PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DI STT. , KERALA                        | BDL                               |
|           2308 | FATHIMAPURAM (CHANGA NASSERY)                             | BDL                               |
|           2309 | KAROOR (PALA)                                             | BDL                               |
|           2310 | VAIKOM                                                    | BDL                               |
|           2311 | VADAVATHOOR (KOTTAYA M)                                   | BDL                               |
|           2313 | SARVODAPURAM, ALAPPU ZHA                                  | BDL                               |
|           2314 | KUREEPUZHA (KOLLAM)                                       | BDL                               |
|           2315 | K.M.M.L. (KOLLAM)                                         | BDL                               |
|           2316 | CHELLORA TRENCHING G ROUND (KANNUR)                       | BDL                               |
|           2317 | PUNNALPETTIPPALAM (T ELLICHERRY MUNICIPAL ITY             | BDL                               |
|           2320 | MANJERI                                                   | BDL                               |
|           2321 | LALOOR (THRISSUR)                                         | BDL                               |
|           2322 | OLLUR (THRISSUR)                                          | BDL                               |
|           2323 | BRAHMAPURAM M.S.W. D UMPARK (ERNAKULAM)                   | BDL                               |
|           2324 | HAZARDOUS WASTE DUMP (AMBALAMUGHAL)                       | BDL                               |
|           2327 | KARUKAMANI                                                | BDL                               |
|           3463 | WELL AT VELLIPARAMBA , KOZHEKODE                          | BDL                               |
|           3472 | WELL OF TEMPLE PARAS SINIKADAVU, KANNUR                   | BDL                               |
|           3474 | WELL AT PAYANOOR, KA NNUR                                 | BDL                               |
|           3475 | WELL AT KARIMBAM, KANNUR                                  | BDL                               |