Lok Sabha Question No. 2353 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-13
Subject: Emerging Contaminants in Groundwater
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Ashok Kumar Rawat, Shri Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2353

## ANSWERED ON 13.03.2025

## EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN GROUNDWATER

## 2353. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH

## SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether there are any emerging contaminants identified in the 2024 Annual Groundwater Quality Report that require immediate attention, particularly in regions like Jhalawar-Baran and other parts of Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  initiatives  have  been  effective  in  mitigating  groundwater contamination and specific actions taken to address contamination in rural and underdeveloped areas;

(c)  whether  the  Government  foresees  community  engagement  and  private  sector  partnerships  in improving groundwater quality management and if so, the details of these collaborations along with the way in which they would be implemented in regions such as Rajasthan;

(d) the manner in which these efforts would be tailored to ensure sustainable groundwater management in  regions  with  limited  infrastructure  and  resources,  ensuring  equitable  access  to  clean  water  for  all communities; and

(e)  the  extent  to  which  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  are  effective  in  managing  contamination attributed to the submergence?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

( a) The  Annual  Groundwater  Quality  Report  2024  prepared  by  the  Central  Ground  Water  Board (CGWB) is based on the ground water sampling and analysis from 15,259 monitoring locations spread across the country. The major objective of the report is to study various water quality parameters like Electrical  Conductivity(EC),  Fluoride,  Arsenic,  heavy  metals,  Nitrate  etc.in  groundwater  used  for drinking and agriculture purposes. The report has found the presence of above contaminants beyond the prescribed limits for human consumption in isolated pockets of some States/UTs, including Rajasthan. Apart from that, no new emerging pollutants have been identified in the report.

Parameter-wise details of ground water quality in Jhalawar, Baran and other Districts of Rajasthan is provided in Annexure.

(b) Water  is  a  state  subject  and  the  responsibility  of  ground  water  management,  including  taking initiatives for improving ground water quality and mitigate the contamination issue, lies primarily with the  state  governments.  The  Central  Government  complements  the  efforts  of  the  States  by  providing technical support and financial assistance through its various centrally sponsored schemes.

However, the Central Government in this direction has taken several steps in this direction and some of the  important  ones  are  regular  sharing  of  ground  water  quality  data  available  with  CGWB  through Yearbooks, Half-yearly Bulletins and fortnightly Alerts etc.; Taking up special studies in ground water quality  affected  areas;  Taking  up  construction  of  Arsenic  safe  wells  by  CGWB  in  the  affected  areas using  the  innovative  cement  sealing  technology;  Implementing   comprehensive  pollution  control program by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) by setting industry specific discharge standards, making Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) mandatory  for  Industries,  Online  continuous  monitoring  of Discharge etc.

Moreover,  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 in the country, wherein Bureau of Indian Standards' BIS:10500 standards have been adopted as prescribed norms for quality of tap water service delivery.

As a result of all these cumulative efforts, it is reported that from August 2019 to March 2025 the number of habitations affected in the country by two major contaminants viz. Arsenic & Fluoride, have declined from 14,020 to 314 and from 7,996 to 251 respectively. These remaining habitations have also been provided clean, & safe drinking water through Community Water Purifier Plants (CWPPs).

(c) The  central  government  has  taken  several  important  steps  to  ensure  large  scale  community  and private sector participation for turning ground water management into a truly peoples' movement. The notable among them are:

- i. The Central Government is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana in 80 water stressed districts across  7  states,  including  Rajasthan.  The  primary  aim  of  the  scheme  is  demand  side management through scientific means based on water budgeting of the area involving the local communities at village levels leading to sustainable groundwater management in the targeted areas.
- ii. Central  Ground  Water  Board  organizes  various  Public  Interaction  Programs  (PIP),  Mass Awareness  Programs  (MAP),  Tier  II  and  Tier  -III  programmes  on  local  ground  water issues,  including  educating  the  public  about  the  impacts  of  water  contamination  and promoting  sustainable  practices  to  maintain  water  quality.  The  PIPs  have  rural  and underdeveloped areas as their focus so as to spread the message to even remote corners of the country.

- iii. Under JJM, with a view to involve community at large and to spread awareness regarding water quality , five persons, preferably women, are identified and trained from every village for testing the water samples through Field Test Kits (FTKs). Thus far, more than 24 lakh women have been trained across the country.
- iv. The Government is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country since 2019 with active community involvement. Jal Shakti Kendras (JSKs) have been set up under Abhiyan in various districts of the country for interacting with local community and dissemination of water related knowledge. 33 JSKs have been set up in Rajasthan so far.
- v. To further strengthen the momentum of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: A Community-Driven Path to Water Sustainability in India has been launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on September 6, 2024, in Surat, Gujarat whose main objective is to ensure that  every  drop  of  water  is  conserved  through  collective  efforts,  following  a  whole-ofsociety and whole-of-government approach.
- vi. Further, the Ministry of Jal Shakti and its organizations, work with a very large number of Non-Governmental  Organizations  and  academic  institutions  to  promote  public  awareness and  for  enhancing  water  resource  management  in  the  country.  Notably,  the  Ministry  has entered into several MoUs with NGOs working at the grassroots level.

(d) M/o  Jal  Shakti  has  formulated  National  Water  Policy,  2012  which  highlights  the  inequitable distribution  of  ground  water  resources  in  the  country  and  the  need  to  develop  area  specific  approach considering  the  local  climatic  factors  and  hydrogeological  conditions  for  sustainable  management  of ground water resources. The policy urges the States to formulate their schemes and projects accordingly. Additionally,  as  mentioned  earlier,  the  government  is  implementing  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  for  ensuring equitable  access  to  clean  water  for  all  communities,  especially  in  rural  areas.  Under  JJM,  out  of  the allocated amount, states can utilize up to 2% for Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance. Further, as per  Operational  Guidelines  of  JJM,  while  allocating  funds,  30%  weightage  is  to  be  given  to  rural population,  10%  to  rural  SC/ST  population  and  10%  population  residing  in  habitations  affected  by chemical contamination.

(e) Salinity  ingress  has  been  reported  in  some  coastal  parts  of  the  country  due  to  seawater encroachment.  National  Institute  of  Hydrology  (NIH),  Roorkee  has  conducted  research  studies  to investigate aspects related to salinity ingress in coastal aquifers in different areas. Further, CGWB has carried out Aquifer mapping under National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) and reports of all the coastal districts have been prepared and shared with state for implementation of management  plans.  As  per  the recommendations,  various  measures  like construction of Tidal Regulators, embankments, sea walls, Check Dams, Recharge reservoirs, Recharge Tanks etc. have been taken up by state governments, which are reported to be working effectively.

***

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2353 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 13.03.2025 REGARDING 'EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN GROUNDWATER'.

## Details of District-wise ground water quality for various parameters, Rajasthan for the year 2023

|      |                                            | TDS              | TDS                                       | Cl          | Cl                              | SO4   | SO4                                       | F     | F                                         | NO3   | NO3                                       | Th    | Th                                        |       |                                              | Mg    | Mg                                        |       |
|------|--------------------------------------------|------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------|---------------------------------|-------|-------------------------------------------|-------|-------------------------------------------|-------|-------------------------------------------|-------|-------------------------------------------|-------|----------------------------------------------|-------|-------------------------------------------|-------|
| S. N | Districts (prior to re- organization list) | Samples analysed | No of Sample More than permissib le limit | % More than | No of Sample permi ssible limit | %     | No of Sample More than permi ssible limit | %     | No of Sample More than permi ssible limit | %     | No of Sample More than permi ssible limit | %     | No of Sample More than permi ssible limit | %     | Ca No of Sample More than permi ssible limit | %     | No of Sample More than permi ssible limit | %     |
| 1    | AJMER                                      | 14               | 6 42.86                                   | 2           |                                 | 14.29 | 4                                         | 28.57 | 6                                         | 42.86 | 6                                         | 42.86 | 4                                         | 28.57 | 0                                            | 0     | 3                                         | 21.43 |
| 2    | ALWAR                                      | 15               | 2                                         | 13.33       | 1                               | 6.67  | 3                                         | 20    | 2                                         | 13.33 | 6                                         | 40    | 4                                         | 26.67 | 2                                            | 13.33 | 2                                         | 13.33 |
| 3    | BANSWARA                                   | 14               | 0                                         | 0           | 0                               | 0     | 0                                         | 0     | 6                                         | 42.86 | 8                                         | 57.14 | 0                                         | 0     | 0                                            | 0     | 0                                         | 0     |
| 4    | BARAN                                      | 5                | 0                                         | 0           | 0                               | 0     | 0                                         | 0     | 0                                         | 0     | 3                                         | 60    | 1                                         | 20    | 0                                            | 0     | 0                                         | 0     |
| 5    | BARMER                                     | 54               | 44                                        | 81.48       | 28                              | 51.85 | 32                                        | 59.26 | 23                                        | 42.59 | 36                                        | 66.67 | 16                                        | 29.63 | 4                                            | 7.41  | 17                                        | 31.48 |
| 6    | BHARAT PUR                                 | 18               | 10                                        | 55.56       | 5                               | 27.78 | 6                                         | 33.33 | 6                                         | 33.33 | 5                                         | 27.78 | 7                                         | 38.89 | 1                                            | 5.56  | 6                                         | 33.33 |
| 7    | BHILWARA                                   | 27               | 12                                        | 44.44       | 5                               | 18.52 | 8                                         | 29.63 | 6                                         | 22.22 | 13                                        | 48.15 | 10                                        | 37.04 | 3                                            | 11.11 | 9                                         | 33.33 |
| 8    | BIKANER                                    | 37               | 14                                        | 37.84       | 10                              | 27.03 | 7                                         | 18.92 | 13                                        | 35.14 | 12                                        | 32.43 | 9                                         | 24.32 | 2                                            | 5.41  | 7                                         | 18.92 |
| 9    | BUNDI                                      | 9                | 1                                         | 11.11       | 0                               | 0     | 2                                         | 22.22 | 3                                         | 33.33 | 1                                         | 11.11 | 1                                         | 11.11 | 0                                            | 0     | 2                                         | 22.22 |
| 10   | CHITTA URGARH                              | 5                | 1                                         | 20          | 0                               | 0     | 1                                         | 20    | 2                                         | 40    | 3                                         | 60    | 0                                         | 0     | 0                                            | 0     | 0                                         | 0     |
| 11   | CHURU                                      | 44               | 26                                        | 59.09       | 14                              | 31.82 | 14                                        | 31.82 | 21                                        | 47.73 | 28                                        | 63.64 | 17                                        | 38.64 | 6                                            | 13.64 | 17                                        | 38.64 |
| 12   | DAUSA                                      | 10               | 5                                         | 50          | 2                               | 20    | 4                                         | 40    | 2                                         | 20    | 4                                         | 40    | 4                                         | 40    | 1                                            | 10    | 3                                         | 30    |
| 13   | DHAULPUR                                   | 6                | 0                                         | 0           | 0                               | 0     | 0                                         | 0     | 1                                         | 16.67 | 0                                         | 0     | 0                                         | 0     | 0                                            | 0     | 0                                         | 0     |
| 14   | DUNGA RPUR                                 | 4                | 0                                         | 0           | 0                               | 0     | 0                                         | 0     | 1                                         | 25    | 0                                         | 0     | 0                                         | 0     | 0                                            | 0     | 0                                         | 0     |
| 15   | GANGA NAGAR                                | 11               | 3                                         | 27.27       | 2                               | 18.18 | 2                                         | 18.18 | 4                                         | 36.36 | 5                                         | 45.45 | 4                                         | 36.36 | 1                                            | 9.09  | 3                                         | 27.27 |

| 16           | HANUM ANGARH   | 16    |     8 | 50   | 1 6.25   | 6       | 37.5   |     5 |   31.25 | 9        | 56.25   | 7     | 43.75   | 4 25   |   7 |   43.75 |
|--------------|----------------|-------|-------|------|----------|---------|--------|-------|---------|----------|---------|-------|---------|--------|-----|---------|
| 17           | JAIPUR         | 32 17 | 53.13 | 5    | 15.63    | 6 18.75 | 17     | 53.13 |   18    | 56.25    | 9       | 28.13 | 1       | 3.13   |   8 |   25    |
| 18           | JAISALMER 33   | 21    | 63.64 | 13   | 39.39    | 9 27.27 |        | 15    |   45.45 | 13       | 39.39 7 | 21.21 | 0       | 0      |   7 |   21.21 |
| 19           | JALORE 23      | 13    | 56.52 | 9    | 39.13    | 5       | 21.74  | 16    |   69.57 | 11 47.83 | 7       | 30.43 | 4       | 17.39  |   4 |   17.39 |
| 20 JHALAWAR  | 20 JHALAWAR    | 12 0  |  0    |      | 0 0      | 0       | 0      |  1    |    8.33 | 4        | 33.33   | 0     | 0 0     | 0      |   1 |    8.33 |
| 21           | JHUN JHUNU     | 19 10 | 52.63 | 1    | 5.26     | 5       | 26.32  | 12    |   63.16 | 12 63.16 | 0       |       | 0       | 0 0    |   3 |   15.79 |
| 22           | JODHPUR        | 72 49 | 68.06 | 34   | 47.22    | 25      | 34.72  | 44    |   61.11 | 41       | 56.94   | 22    | 30.56   | 6 8.33 |  18 |   25    |
| 23           | KARAULI        | 11 6  | 54.55 | 2    | 18.18    | 3       | 27.27  |  2    |   18.18 | 7        | 63.64 3 |       | 27.27 2 | 18.18  |   3 |   27.27 |
| 24           | KOTA           | 1 0   |  0    | 0    | 0        | 0       | 0      |  0    |    0    | 0        | 0       | 0     | 0 43.59 | 0 0    |   0 |    0    |
| 25           | NAGAUR         | 39 29 | 74.36 | 21   | 53.85    | 22      | 56.41  | 26    |   66.67 | 19       | 48.72   | 17    | 3       | 7.69   |  18 |   46.15 |
| 26           | PALI           | 19 9  | 47.37 | 5    | 26.32    | 7       | 36.84  | 14    |   73.68 | 9        | 47.37   | 5     | 26.32 1 | 5.26   |   5 |   26.32 |
| 27           | PRATAP GARH    | 7 0   |  0    | 0    | 0        | 0       | 0      |  1    |   14.29 | 6        | 85.71   | 2     | 28.57 0 | 0      |   1 |   14.29 |
| 28 RAJSAMAND | 28 RAJSAMAND   | 15 2  | 13.33 | 0    | 0        | 3       | 20     |  5    |   33.33 | 6        | 40      | 3     | 20      | 0 0    |   3 |   20    |
| 29           | SAWAI MADHOPUR | 11 3  | 27.27 | 2    | 18.18    | 2       | 18.18  |  5    |   45.45 | 5        | 45.45   | 1     | 9.09 0  | 0      |   2 |   18.18 |
| 30           | SIKAR          | 8 1   | 12.5  | 0    | 0        | 0       | 0      |  1    |   12.5  | 4        | 50      | 0     | 0 0     | 0      |   0 |    0    |
| 31           | SIROHI         | 13 2  | 15.38 | 2    | 15.38    | 1       | 7.69   |  8    |   61.54 | 5        | 38.46   | 3     | 23.08 0 | 0      |   2 |   15.38 |
| 32           | TONK           | 14 7  | 50    | 3    | 21.43    | 4       | 28.57  |  5    |   35.71 | 8 57.14  | 3       |       | 21.43   | 1 7.14 |   5 |   35.71 |
| 33           | UDAIPUR        | 12 1  |  8.33 | 0    | 0        | 0       | 0      |  2    |   16.67 | 6        | 50      | 3     | 25      | 0 0    |   3 |   25    |

*prior to re-organization

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