Lok Sabha Question No. 2456 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-13
Subject: Hazardous Chemical Components in Groundwater
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Vijaylakshmi Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2456

ANSWERED ON 13.03.2025

## HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL COMPONENTS IN GROUNDWATER

## †2456. SMT. VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the presence of hazardous chemical components in groundwater  which  despite  being  unfit  for  consumption  is  being  used  for  drinking  purposes  across  the country adversely affecting human health and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any scientific study on this matter, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether State and district-wise details of such studies are available, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d) the measures taken/being taken by the Government in coordination with various States in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (c) As per the available information, there is no reporting of contaminated ground water containing hazardous chemicals, being used for drinking in the country on a large scale.

Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  conducts  ground  water  quality  monitoring  for  several parameters on a regular  basis throughout the country and also  generates  ground water quality data on a regional  scale  during  various  scientific  studies.  Based  on  the  monitoring  data,  the  Annual  Groundwater Quality  Report  2024  has  been  prepared  by  the  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB),  which  contains sampling, and analysis data from 15,259 monitoring locations spread across the country. The report along with  other  studies  conducted  by  CGWB  has  found  that  ground  water  in  the  country  is  largely  potable. However, the presence of certain contaminants like Nitrate, Fluoride, Arsenic etc. beyond the prescribed limits for human consumption has been reported in isolated pockets of some States/UTs.

CGWB has completed district-wise aquifer mapping studies for the entire country considering both quantity and quality aspects of ground water under the National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM). While  taking  up  aquifer  studies,  special  attention  has  been  given  to  the  aspect  of  ground  water  quality including  contamination  by  toxic  substances  such  as  Arsenic  and  Fluoride  in  ground  water.  Completed studies  with  suitable  ground  water  management  plans  have  been  shared  with  concerned  state/district authorities for taking up suitable interventions.

Based on the ground water quality report, 2024, State-wise details of affected districts and samples found above permissible limits for some of the important parameters is presented in Annexure.

(d) Water  is  a  State  subject  and  the  responsibility  of  ground  water  management,  including  taking initiatives for improving ground water quality and addressing the contamination issue, lies primarily with the state governments. In addition to this, given the importance of managing the ground water quality in the country  and  mitigating  the  risks  of  contamination,  the  Central  government  has  already  initiated  several steps in co-ordination with States, which are continuing. Some of the important measures are mentioned below :

- i. Data on ground water quality available with CGWB are made available in public domain through reports as well as through the web site (http://www.cgwb.gov.in) for use by various stakeholders. The data is also shared with concerned State Governments for taking necessary remedial measures. The  practice  of  issuing  Half-yearly  Bulletins  and  Fortnightly  Alerts  for  quick  action  by  the stakeholders has also been started.
- ii. CGWB is successfully constructing Arsenic free wells in arsenic affected areas using the cement sealing technology for tapping contamination free aquifers and also providing technical assistance to state departments in Fluoride mitigation.
- iii. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has entered into an MoU with Geological Survey of India (GSI) in 2022 for the study of Uranium, Lead, Arsenic, Fluoride and Mercury contamination of groundwater  in  parts  of  Punjab,  Haryana,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam States.
- iv. 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. Under the JJM, Bureau of Indian Standards' BIS:10500 standards have been adopted as prescribed norms for quality of tap water service delivery.  Water safety has been one of the key priorities under the JJM since its inception. Further, under JJM, while allocating the funds to States/ UTs, 10%  weightage  is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.
- v. States/ UTs have been advised to plan and implement piped water supply schemes of bulk water transfer based on safe water sources such as surface water sources or alternative safe ground water sources for the villages with water quality issues.
- vi. Further, the quality of groundwater can be improved to some extent if concerted efforts are made to  improve  the groundwater  resources  through  appropriate groundwater  recharge/rainwater harvesting. Government of India in this regard has taken up a number of initiatives/schemes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan, PMKSY-Watershed development, MGNREGA, Atal Bhujal Yojana etc.

***

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2456 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 13.03.2025 REGARDING 'HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL COMPONENTS IN GROUNDWATER'.

State-wise details of Nitrate, Fluoride, Arsenic and Uranium Contamination in Ground Water for Year 2023

| S.No.   |                                    | Nitrate                  | Nitrate                         | Nitrate                                   | Fluoride                | Fluoride                     | Fluoride                            | Arsenic                    | Arsenic                     | Arsenic                                 | Uranium                     | Uranium                | Uranium                             |
|---------|------------------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------|
|         | State                              | No. of samples analyse d | %of samples with NO 3 > 45 mg/L | No. of districts having Nitrate > 45 mg/L | No. of samples analysed | %of samples with F >1.5 mg/L | No of districts having F > 1.5 mg/L | No. of samples Asanaly sed | %of samples with As> 10 ppb | No of districts having Arsenic > 10 ppb | No. of sample s U analyse d | %of sam ples U> 30 ppb | No of distr icts havi ng U > 30 ppb |
| 1       | Andaman & Nicobar Islands          | 113                      | 0                               | 0                                         | 113                     | 0                            | 0                                   | 0                          | 0                           | 0                                       |                             |                        |                                     |
| 2       | Andhra Pradesh                     | 1149                     | 23.5                            | 26                                        | 1149                    | 11.31                        | 17                                  | 0                          | 0                           | 0                                       |                             |                        |                                     |
| 3       | Arunachal Pradesh                  | 12                       | 0                               | 0                                         | 12                      | 0                            | 0                                   | 12                         | 0.0                         | 0                                       | 12                          | 0                      | 0                                   |
| 4       | Assam                              | 155                      | 0                               | 0                                         | 155                     | 0                            | 0                                   | 155                        | 0.65                        | 1                                       | 155                         | 0                      | 0                                   |
| 5       | Bihar                              | 808                      | 2.35                            | 15                                        | 808                     | 4.58                         | 6                                   | 0                          | 0.0                         | 0                                       | 752                         | 0.1                    | 1                                   |
| 6       | Chandigarh UT                      | 8                        | 0                               | 0                                         | 8                       | 0                            | 0                                   | 8                          | 0.0                         | 0                                       | 8                           | 0                      | 0                                   |
| 7       | Chhattisgarh                       | 783                      | 11.49                           | 20                                        | 783                     | 1.79                         | 8                                   | 0                          | 0                           | 0                                       | 783                         | 0.6                    | 3                                   |
| 8       | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu | 17                       | 0                               | 0                                         | 10                      | 0                            | 0                                   | 0                          | 0                           | 0                                       |                             |                        |                                     |
| 9       | Delhi                              | 103                      | 20.39                           | 7                                         | 103                     | 16.5                         | 6                                   | 103                        | 2.91                        | 2                                       | 103                         | 10.7                   | 6                                   |
| 10      | Goa                                | 10                       | 0                               | 0                                         | 10                      | 0                            | 0                                   | 6                          | 0.0                         | 0                                       | 6                           | 0                      | 0                                   |
| 11      | Gujarat                            | 632                      | 18.04                           | 23                                        | 632                     | 13.92                        | 25                                  | 0                          | 0.0                         | 0                                       |                             |                        |                                     |
| 12      | Haryana                            | 879                      | 14.56                           | 21                                        | 879                     | 23.66                        | 17                                  | 857                        | 0.70                        | 5                                       | 857                         | 18.7                   | 16                                  |
| 13      | Himachal Pradesh                   | 171                      | 9.36                            | 6                                         | 171                     | 1.17                         | 2                                   | 0                          | 0.0                         | 0                                       |                             |                        |                                     |
| 14      | Jammu& Kashmir                     | 250                      | 9.2                             | 6                                         | 250                     | 0                            | 0                                   | 250                        | 0.8                         | 2                                       | 250                         | 0                      | 0                                   |
| 15      | Jharkhand                          | 397                      | 5.79                            | 9                                         | 397                     | 2.77                         | 8                                   | 0                          | 0.0                         | 0                                       | 342                         | 0                      | 0                                   |

| 16    | Karnataka      | 345                                     | 48.99                                   | 27                                      | 345                                     | 17.68                                   | 19                                      | 125                                    | 3.20                                   | 2                                      | 125                                     | 4.8                                     | 3                                       |
|-------|----------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 17    | Kerala         | 342                                     | 6.73                                    | 10                                      | 342                                     | 0.29                                    | 1                                       | 0                                      | 0.00                                   | 0                                      | 342                                     | 0                                       | 0                                       |
| 18    | Madhya Pradesh | 589                                     | 22.58                                   | 39                                      | 589                                     | 1.02                                    | 6                                       | 1064                                   | 0.0                                    | 0                                      | 1064                                    | 0.5                                     | 3                                       |
| 19    | Maharashtra    | 1567                                    | 35.74                                   | 32                                      | 1567                                    | 1.91                                    | 10                                      | 0                                      | 0.00                                   | 0                                      | 1567                                    | 0.2                                     | 3                                       |
| 20    | Meghalaya      | 39                                      | 0                                       | 0                                       | 39                                      | 0                                       | 0                                       | 39                                     | 0.0                                    | 0                                      | 39                                      | 0                                       | 0                                       |
| 21    | Mizoram        | 3                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 3                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 3                                      | 0.0                                    | 0                                      | 3                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       |
| 22    | Nagaland       | 6                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 6                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 6                                      | 0.0                                    | 0                                      | 6                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       |
| 23    | Odisha         | 625                                     | 14.4                                    | 15                                      | 625                                     | 4.48                                    | 10                                      | 904                                    | 0.66                                   | 3                                      | 904                                     | 0.3                                     | 3                                       |
| 24    | Pondicherry    | 4                                       | 25                                      | 1                                       | 4                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      | 4                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       |
| 25    | Punjab         | 922                                     | 12.58                                   | 20                                      | 922                                     | 13.77                                   | 17                                      | 908                                    | 4.85                                   | 12                                     | 908                                     | 32.6                                    | 20                                      |
| 26    | Rajasthan      | 630                                     | 49.52                                   | 30                                      | 630                                     | 43.17                                   | 31                                      | 0                                      | 0.0                                    | 0                                      | 627                                     | 21.2                                    | 21                                      |
| 27    | Tamil Nadu     | 916                                     | 37.77                                   | 31                                      | 916                                     | 9.72                                    | 21                                      | 0                                      | 0.0                                    | 0                                      | 915                                     | 2.3                                     | 9                                       |
| 28    | Telangana      | 1150                                    | 27.48                                   | 32                                      | 1150                                    | 14.87                                   | 28                                      | 0                                      | 0.0                                    | 0                                      |                                         |                                         |                                         |
| 29    | Tripura        | 81                                      | 2.47                                    | 2                                       | 81                                      | 0                                       | 0                                       | 81                                     | 0.0                                    | 0                                      | 81                                      | 0                                       | 0                                       |
| 30    | Uttar Pradesh  | 1387                                    | 9.37                                    | 48                                      | 1387                                    | 5.7                                     | 27                                      | 1386                                   | 6.70                                   | 29                                     | 1386                                    | 8.3                                     | 43                                      |
| 31    | Uttarakhand    | 207                                     | 17.39                                   | 5                                       | 207                                     | 0.48                                    | 1                                       | 207                                    | 3.86                                   | 3                                      | 206                                     | 0.5                                     | 1                                       |
| 32    | West Bengal    | 959                                     | 8.65                                    | 18                                      | 959                                     | 0.73                                    | 3                                       | 959                                    | 8.76                                   | 6                                      |                                         |                                         |                                         |
| Grand | Total          | 15259                                   | 19.8                                    | 443                                     | 15259                                   | 9.04                                    | 263                                     | 7074                                   | 3.55                                   | 65                                     | 11445                                   | 6.6                                     | 132                                     |
|       |                | Parts of 443 districts in 23 States/UTs | Parts of 443 districts in 23 States/UTs | Parts of 443 districts in 23 States/UTs | Parts of 263 districts in 20 States/UTs | Parts of 263 districts in 20 States/UTs | Parts of 263 districts in 20 States/UTs | Parts of 65 districts in 10 States/UTs | Parts of 65 districts in 10 States/UTs | Parts of 65 districts in 10 States/UTs | Parts of 132 districts in 13 States/UTs | Parts of 132 districts in 13 States/UTs | Parts of 132 districts in 13 States/UTs |

*Data from the States/UTs of Manipur,  Lakshadweep, Ladakh and Sikkim is not available.

*****