Lok Sabha Question No. 1482 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Arsenic Level in Groundwater in Assam
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1482

ANSWERED ON 13.02.2025

## ARSENIC LEVEL IN GROUNDWATER IN ASSAM

## 1482. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  arsenic  levels  over  0.01  mg/l  have  been  found  in  19  districts  of Assam;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the efforts made/being made by the Government to implement effective mitigation and remediation measures;

(c)  whether the Government has undertaken any health impact assessments to evaluate the consequences of arsenic exposure in affected areas and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  raise  public  awareness  about  the  dangers  of  arsenic exposure and promote safe drinking water practices; and

(e)  the  details  of  long-term  strategies  that  are  being  considered  to  prevent  future  arsenic  contamination  in groundwater sources in Assam?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) & (b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data on a regional scale as part of its ground water quality monitoring program and various scientific studies. As per the latest data of premonsoon, 2024 generated by CGWB, occurrence of Arsenic in ground water in excess of the prescribed limits has been reported in isolated pockets of 9 districts in Assam viz. Barpeta, Goalpara, Golaghat, Karbi-anglong, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Sibsagar, Nalbari and Karimganj.

Water  being  a  State  subject,  sustainable  development  and  management  of  groundwater  resources, including  the  quality  aspect  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments.  However,  the  Central Government facilitates the efforts of the State Governments, including Assam, through technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and projects. In this direction, the important steps taken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other central ministries are given below :-

-  Data  on  ground  water  quality  available  with  CGWB  are  made  available  in  public  domain through  reports  and  also  shared  with  concerned  State  Governments  for  taking  necessary

remedial  measures.  To  further  accelerate  the  dissemination  of  knowledge  on  ground  water quality, CGWB has initiated the practice of issuing half-yearly ground water quality Bulletins and fortnightly Alerts so that immediate action can be initiated in the reported areas.

-  Under the National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) of CGWB, special attention is being given to the aspect of ground water quality including contamination by toxic substances such  as  Arsenic  in  ground  water.  CGWB  is  successfully  constructing  Arsenic  free  wells  in arsenic affected areas using the innovative cement sealing technology for tapping contamination  free  aquifers  and  also  providing  technical  assistance  to  state  departments, including PHE Department, Assam, towards the same.
-  CPCB has made a comprehensive programme on water pollution for controlling point sources the  main  components  of  which  are  developing  industry  specific  standards  and  general standards for discharge of effluents notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change,  Govt.  of  India  to  be  enforced  by  the SPCBs  /  PCCs  through  consent  mechanism;  Establishment  of  Common  Effluent  Treatment Plants  (CETPs)  for  cluster  of  Small  Scale  Industries;  Installation  of  Online  Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) by Grossly Polluting Industries for getting real time information on the effluent quality etc.
-  Government of  India,  in  partnership  with  States,  is  implementing  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM) since August, 2019 to provide potable tap water supply of prescribed quality and on regular &long term basis to every rural household in the country. Under JJM, while planning water supply schemes to provide tap water supply to house-holds, priority is given to quality-affected habitations.  While  allocating  the  funds  to  States/  UTs  in  a  particular  financial  year,  10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.
-  Awareness  generation  programs/  workshop  on  various  aspects  of  ground  water  including preventing ground water pollution and safe use of contaminated water are being conducted by CGWB periodically.

(c) Use  of  Ground  Water  for  drinking  purpose  having  Arsenic  beyond  the  permissible  limits  over  a prolonged period of time is known to cause several adverse health effects. As per the information provided by M/o Health & Family Welfare, Arsenic exposure can cause skin lesions, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and developmental issues in children.

(d) Several  measures  have  been  initiated  by  the  Union  Government  to  raise  public  awareness  regarding dangers  of  Arsenic  exposure.  Firstly,   technical  guidelines  for  'Detection,  Prevention  and  Management  of Arsenicosis in India' have been prepared by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and shared with the affected States for use by the health authorities and programme managers. These are also to be used for training of field

functionaries such as medical officers, paramedical workers, etc. The guidelines are available on the websites of Directorate General of Health Services and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

In order to create awareness of disease symptoms and prevention of Arsenicosis, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also shared Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material with the affected States. Further,  CGWB conducts Public Interaction Programmes (PIPs) at the grassroots level for dissemination of outputs of scientific  studies  being  carried  out  by  CGWB  and  to  raise  public  awareness  about  ground  water related  issues  including  the  issues  of  contamination  by  toxic  elements  like  Arsenic.  So  far  CGWB  has organised 1518 such programs across the country.

In  order  to  take  the  awareness  on  drinking  water  quality  to  the  grassroots,  under  Jal  Jeevan  Mission,  the 'Drinking Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Framework' was devised and disseminated to states in October 2021. To facilitate implementation of the above said Framework, more than 2000 water quality testing laboratories have been set up in the country. Besides this, five persons, preferably women, are identified and trained from every village for testing the water samples through Field Test Kits (FTKs).

(e) Arsenic  contamination  of  ground  water  is  known  to  be  mainly  geo-genic  in  nature,  that  is,  the contamination occurs through leaching of Arsenic bearing compounds into ground water through rock and soil matrix under conducive conditions. The best long term remedy for the issue is considered to be regular quality testing  to  identify  contaminated  sources,  tapping  Arsenic  safe  aquifers  and  switching  over  to  alternative sources  for  drinking,  especially  surface  water  sources  etc.  In  this  direction,  JJM-  Har  Ghar  Jal  marks  an important milestone.

As a result of cumulative efforts under JJM, it is reported that from August 2019 to January 2025 the number of Arsenic affected habitations in the country have declined from 14,020 to 314. These remaining habitations have also been provided clean, & safe drinking water through Community Water Purifier Plants (CWPPs). As per JJM portal, in Assam, 81% of village households have been covered under the Scheme and as reported, there are no Arsenic affected habitations left.

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