Lok Sabha Question No. 341 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-19
Subject: Contamination of Ground Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, Kunhalikutty, P.K.

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

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 341 ANSWERED ON 19.0 7.201 8

## CONTAMINATION OF GRO UND WATER

## 341. SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA SHRI P.K.KUNHALIKUTTY

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

(a) whether many scientists have found widespread uranium contamination in ground water aquifers across many States in the country much above the WHO provisional standard and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether presence of fluoride, arsenic, mercury, other harmful chemicals and metals been noticed in the ground water in various States of the country and if so, the details ereof; (c) the reaction of the Union Government on aforesaid issues;

(d)  whether  the  Union  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  check  the  prevalence  of  th chemicals and metals in India's ground water with the help of any foreign expertise; and (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a)Studies carried out by various Government agencies like Atomic Mineral Department, Bha Atomic Research Centre, Department of Water supply and Sanitation (DWSS), Govt of Punjab indicated the presence of uranium contamination in ground water in some parts of 10 States viz. Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Ma Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal. Further, as per the study carried out by scientists f States in association with Central Ground Wate r Board and State Ground Water Departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat, prevalence of uranium concentrations, above the World Health Organ provisional guideline value of 30 μg/l, have been recorded in some localized pockets in the States of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

(b) to (e)  Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors ground water quality periodical ascertain the magnitude and extent of different contaminants in ground water. The grou quality data is shared with concerned State Governments for taking necessary remedial measures . States - wise  details  of  affected  districts  with  ground  water  contamination  by  different constituents are given at Annexure.

Government of Punjab has reported that reverse osmosis plant  are being installed in areas where heavy metals are found more than the permissible limits.

CGWB  carries  out  exploratory  drilling  to  delineate  contamination  free  aquifer Successful wells are handed over to the State Governments for purpose ful utilization.

Rural drinking water supply is a State subject.  For improving the coverage of safe water to rural population, the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation supplements the efforts of the States by providing them with technical and financial assistance through the centrall National  Rural  Drinking  Water  Programme  (NRDWP).  It  is  the  State  Governments  who  pla design, approve, execute and operate & maintain the schemes for providing safe drinking water rural population. The funds provided to the States under NRDWP can be utilized for cover tackling water quality problems.

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ANNEXURE

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (b ) to (e) of Unstarred Q.No. 341 to be answered in Lok Sabha  on 19.07.2018 regarding ' Contamination of Ground Water '

| States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   | States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   | States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   | States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   | States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   | States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   | States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   | States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   | States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   | States Wise Details of Affected Districts with Ground Water Contamination by different Chemical Constituents   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                | Salinity (EC above 3000 micro mhos/ cm) (EC : Electrical Conductivity)                                         | Fluoride ( above 1.5 mg/l)                                                                                     | Nitrate (above 45 mg/l)                                                                                        | Arsenic (above 0.01 mg/l)                                                                                      | Iron (above 1mg/l )                                                                                            | Heavy metals: Lead (above 0.01 mg/l)                                                                           | Cadmium (above 0.003 mg/l)                                                                                     | Chromium (above 0.05 mg/l)                                                                                     |
|                                                                                                                | Name of the State/UTs                                                                                          |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 1                                                                                                              | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                 | 11                                                                                                             | 11                                                                                                             | 13                                                                                                             | 3                                                                                                              | 7                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 2                                                                                                              | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 4                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 3                                                                                                              | Assam                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                | 6                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                | 19                                                                                                             | 18                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 4                                                                                                              | Bihar                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                | 13                                                                                                             | 10                                                                                                             | 23                                                                                                             | 19                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 5                                                                                                              | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                | 13                                                                                                             | 12                                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                              | 4                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              |
| 6                                                                                                              | Delhi                                                                                                          | 7                                                                                                              | 7                                                                                                              | 8                                                                                                              | 2                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                | 3                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              | 4                                                                                                              |
| 7                                                                                                              | Goa                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 2                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 8                                                                                                              | Gujarat                                                                                                        | 21                                                                                                             | 19                                                                                                             | 21                                                                                                             | 12                                                                                                             | 6                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 9                                                                                                              | Haryana                                                                                                        | 15                                                                                                             | 20                                                                                                             | 19                                                                                                             | 15                                                                                                             | 17                                                                                                             | 17                                                                                                             | 7                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              |
| 10                                                                                                             | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                               |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 6                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 11                                                                                                             | Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 2                                                                                                              | 4                                                                                                              | 3                                                                                                              | 6                                                                                                              | 3                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |
| 12                                                                                                             | Jharkhand                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                | 12                                                                                                             | 11                                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                              | 6                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 13                                                                                                             | Karnataka                                                                                                      | 29                                                                                                             | 29                                                                                                             | 22                                                                                                             | 2                                                                                                              | 22                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 14                                                                                                             | Kerala                                                                                                         | 4                                                                                                              | 5                                                                                                              | 11                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                | 15                                                                                                             | 2                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                | 1                                                                                                              |
| 15                                                                                                             | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                 | 16                                                                                                             | 39                                                                                                             | 50                                                                                                             | 8                                                                                                              | 42                                                                                                             | 16                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 16                                                                                                             | Maharashtra                                                                                                    | 20                                                                                                             | 17                                                                                                             | 30                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                | 20                                                                                                             | 19                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 17                                                                                                             | Manipur                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 2                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 18                                                                                                             | Meghalaya                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 3                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 19                                                                                                             | Nagaland                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 1                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 20                                                                                                             | Odisha                                                                                                         | 7                                                                                                              | 25                                                                                                             | 28                                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                              | 21                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 1                                                                                                              |
| 21                                                                                                             | Punjab                                                                                                         | 9                                                                                                              | 19                                                                                                             | 20                                                                                                             | 10                                                                                                             | 9                                                                                                              | 6                                                                                                              | 8                                                                                                              | 10                                                                                                             |
| 22                                                                                                             | Rajasthan                                                                                                      | 30                                                                                                             | 33                                                                                                             | 33                                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                              | 33                                                                                                             | 4                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 23                                                                                                             | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                     | 23                                                                                                             | 19                                                                                                             | 27                                                                                                             | 9                                                                                                              | 2                                                                                                              | 3                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              | 5                                                                                                              |
| 24                                                                                                             | Telangana                                                                                                      | 7                                                                                                              | 9                                                                                                              | 10                                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                              | 8                                                                                                              | 2                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                              |
| 25                                                                                                             | Tripura                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 4                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 26                                                                                                             | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                  | 9                                                                                                              | 30                                                                                                             | 46                                                                                                             | 29                                                                                                             | 15                                                                                                             | 10                                                                                                             | 2                                                                                                              | 4                                                                                                              |
| 27                                                                                                             | Uttarakhand                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 3                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 28                                                                                                             | West Bengal                                                                                                    | 4                                                                                                              | 7                                                                                                              | 2                                                                                                              | 9                                                                                                              | 15                                                                                                             | 6                                                                                                              | 2                                                                                                              | 2                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                | UTs                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 1                                                                                                              | Andaman & Nicobar                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 1                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 2                                                                                                              | Chandigarh                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 3                                                                                                              | Dadra & Nagar Haveli                                                                                           |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 4                                                                                                              | Daman & Diu                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 1                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
| 5                                                                                                              | Puducherry                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                |
|                                                                                                                | TOTAL                                                                                                          | 212                                                                                                            | 335                                                                                                            | 386                                                                                                            | 153                                                                                                            | 301                                                                                                            | 93                                                                                                             | 24                                                                                                             | 30                                                                                                             |

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