Lok Sabha Question No. 1014 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Arsenic Contamination 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. 1014

ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026

## ARSENIC CONTAMINATION IN GROUNDWATER IN ASSAM

## 1014.   SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

## Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of reports of arsenic contamination in groundwater in parts of Assam including rural areas of Bokakhat and the Kuruwabahi region of Golaghat district posing serious risks to public health and agriculture;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  extent  of  arsenic  contamination  detected  in  drinking  and  irrigation water sources in the said areas and the diseases reported to be linked to such contamination;

(c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of arsenic-contaminated groundwater on soil quality and Rabi crop productivity and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to provide arsenic-free drinking and irrigation water including the use of surface water bodies such as ponds, reservoirs and rivers; and

(e)  whether  any  time-bound  mitigation  plan  exists  for  soil  restoration,  alternative  irrigation  and  farmer support in arsenic-affected areas of Assam and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) & (b) The Central Ground Water Board ( CGWB) under this Ministry, generates groundwater quality data at a regional scale across the country including Assam, as a part of its groundwater quality monitoring programme and scientific studies conducted based on the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The ground water quality data of CGWB for Assam indicates that the ground water in the state remains largely  potable.  However,  localized  occurrence  of  certain  contaminants,  including  heavy  metals  like Arsenic, beyond the limits prescribed for drinking water use has been reported in some isolated pockets.

Though  consumption  of  ground  water  for  drinking  purpose  having  Arsenic  above  the  permissible limits over a sustained period of time may cause adverse health effects, further detailed studies are required to establish clear linkage of Arsenic contamination in ground water with diseases in Assam.

(c) Arsenic contamination is known to be largely geogenic in nature, that is to say that the contamination originates from the soil and rock matrix itself, which can leach into ground water and subsequently can enter food chain.

(d) & (e) '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 schemes and projects.

- i. The  Union  government's  efforts  towards  handling  ground  water  quality  issues  are  mainly channelized  through  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM)  -  Har  Ghar  Jal,  being  implemented  by  this Ministry in partnership with states, for providing  potable tap water to every rural household of the country. Following measures have been taken under JJM to facilitate action on water quality aspects at state level:-
2.  Safe drinking water  has been one of the key priorities under the JJM since its inception. Under  JJM,  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards'  BIS:10500  standards  have  been  adopted  as prescribed norms for quality of tap water service delivery.
3.  The 'Drinking Water Quality Monitoring  & Surveillance Framework' was devised and disseminated to states in October 2021.
4.  To  facilitate  implementation  of  the  above  said  Framework,  around  2870  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).
5.  States/  UTs  have  also  been  advised  to  install  community  water  purification  plants (CWPPs)  as  an  interim  measure,  especially  in  quality  affected  habitations,  to  provide potable drinking water to every household.
- ii. CGWB  has  been  conducting  aquifer  studies  under  National  Aquifer  Mapping  Programme (NAQUIM), in which special attention is given to the aspect of ground water quality including contamination by toxic substances such as Arsenic in ground water. The study reports along with mitigation measures are disseminated to the State and District administrations for suitable field interventions. Further,  CGWB  has  developed  the  innovative  cement  sealing  technology  for tapping deeper Arsenic free aquifers and has so far successfully  constructed 525 Arsenic safe exploratory wells in the country and is also providing technical assistance to state departments for taking up similar constructions.
- iii. Parallelly, the Government has been taking several steps in States/UTs for developing/rejuvenating water bodies, artificial recharge to ground water and rainwater harvesting through progemmes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB), Mission Amrit Sarovar etc., which apart from augmenting the existing water sources of drinking and irrigation, also create new and safe sources.
- iv. Additionally, the government is promoting conjunctive use of Ground water and Surface water and further supporting several dam/water body desiltation programmes, canal development and extension  projects,  inter-linking  of  rivers  etc.  to  augment  the  supply  and  coverage  of  surface water to cater to various agricultural and domestic needs of the country, including Assam.
- v. Moreover,  under  National  Project  on  Soil  Health  &  Fertility  Scheme,  the  Soil  Health  Cards (SHCs) are being used to monitor and improve soil health.

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