Lok Sabha Question No. 698 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-21
Subject: Uranium Contamination of Ground Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Bellana, Sanjeev Kumar Singari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 698

ANSWERED ON 21.07.2022

## URANIUM CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER

698 SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has conducted a study to map areas with uranium contaminated ground water in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the remedial action plan being prepared by the Government in Uranium contaminated areas;
- (d) whether uranium mining project of UCIL at Tummalapalle has caused groundwater pollution and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  paid  adequate  compensation  for  damage  caused  to  borewells  and crops due to uranium at Tummalapalle; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

- (a) & (b) Water being State subject, study on groundwater quality and making available safe water to public falls under States' mandate.  However, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has carried out a study  to  map  areas  with  Uranium  contaminated  ground  water  during  2019.  As  per  this  study,  the occurrence of Uranium in ground water beyond the BIS permissible limits (0.03 mg/l) of water was observed  in  around  409  groundwater  samples  against  14,377  samples  analysed  by  the  CGWB    in around 18 States.
- (c) Water being a State subject, initiatives for water management, including its quality is primarily the responsibility  of  the  States.  The  data  generated  by  CGWB  has  been  shared  with  respective  State Governments  for  taking  suitable  remedial  action.  Further,  Government  of  India  in  partnership  with States is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal since August, 2019 to make provision

of  potable  tap  water  supply  in  adequate  quantity,  of  prescribed  quality  and  on  regular  &  long-term basis to every rural household by 2024. In addition, under JJM, while allocating the funds to States/ UTs,  10%  weightage  is  given  to  the  population  residing  in  habitations  affected  by  chemical contaminants  including  heavy  metals  and  while  planning  for  potable  water  supply  to  household through tap connection, priority is to be given to quality-affected habitations.

(d) As  per  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DoAE),  hydrogeological  and  stable  isotope  tracer investigations carried out in the groundwater around the Tummalapalle uranium mining project have confirmed that there is no association between uranium mining industry and elevated uranium levels in ground water. The Uranium occurrence is natural which has been confirmed from the investigations.

(e) & (f) As per DoAE, it has been established by the scientific investigations that no damage is caused to  borewells  and  crops  due  to  UCIL  operations  at  Tummalapalle.  Hence,  there  is  no  question  of payment of any compensation in this regard.

*****