Lok Sabha Question No. 829 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Fluoride Contamination in Groundwater
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 829

ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025

## FLUORIDE CONTAMINATION IN GROUNDWATER

## 829. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  fluoride  contamination  in  certain  parts  of  Katni  district  in Madhya Pradesh as reported in recent groundwater quality assessments;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken to provide safe drinking water and install fluoride removal technologies in affected habitations;

(c)  whether  the  groundwater  in  Panna  and  Khajuraho  (Chhatarpur  district)  has  been  assessed  for fluoride, arsenic or nitrate contamination;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to conduct such assessments and ensure preventive measures in these areas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) & (b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data of the country on a regional  scale  as  part  of  its  ground  water  quality  monitoring  program  and  various  scientific  studies conducted as per the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Overall, the data on ground water quality indicates that the ground water in the country remains largely potable with localized occurrences of contaminants in isolated pockets.

As  per  the  Annual  Ground  Water  Quality  Report  2025,  Fluoride  concentrations  at  all  the  16 monitored  locations  in  Katni  district  of  Madhya  Pradesh  are  within  the  BIS  permissible  limit  of  1.5 mg/L (IS 10500:2012).

The Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal scheme across the country in partnership with states for providing contamination free potable tap water to every rural household of the country including those of Madhya Pradesh, in adequate quantity of prescribed quality and  on  regular  &  long-term  basis.  As  per  the  information  available  on  JJM  dashboard,  there  are  no quality affected habitations left in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh as provision of safe drinking water has been made for all habitations under the District.

(c) & (d) Groundwater in Panna and in Khajuraho (Chhatarpur district) has been assessed for Fluoride, Arsenic  and  Nitrate  under  groundwater-quality  monitoring  conducted  by  CGWB  as  per  the  approved

SOP.  District-wise  Groundwater  Contamination  including  the  number  and  percentage  of  samples exceeding limits is provided in Annexure.

(e) Water  is  a  State  subject  and  the  responsibility  of  taking  initiatives  to  mitigate  ground  water contamination and to provide safe drinking water to citizens lies primarily with the state governments. However,  to  complement  the  efforts  of  the  state  governments,  several  steps  have  been  taken  by  the Central Government to address these issues. Some of the important ones are mentioned below:-

-  As mentioned above, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) conducts regular groundwater quality  monitoring  across  the  country.  To  enhance  monitoring  efficiency,  a  new  Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for Groundwater Quality Monitoring has recently been adopted incorporating more frequent and denser sampling in vulnerable areas.
-  The  ground  water  quality  data  generated  by  CGWB  is  regularly  disseminated  through Annual  Reports,  Half-yearly  Bulletins  and  Fortnightly  Alerts  for  quick  action  by  the stakeholders.
-  Under the National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) of CGWB, special attention is being given to the aspect of ground water quality while conducting studies.
-  Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme is being implemented by the government which  marks a paradigm shift in rural water supply. Water safety has been one of the key priorities under the JJM and BIS:10500 standards have been adopted as prescribed norms for quality of tap water  service  delivery.  Moreover,  a  network  of  more  than  2,180  water  quality  testing laboratories  has  been  set  up  across  the  country  for  early  identification  of  contaminated drinking water sources so that safe alternatives can be provided immediately. Further, States/UTs have also been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) as an interim measure,  especially  in  quality  affected  habitations,  to  ensure  safe water access to every household.
-  Since improvement in ground water quality can also be achieved to some degree by taking up  artificial  recharge  activities,  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  and  other  central  ministries  are implementing  several  programmes  towards  this  end,  like  the  annual  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan campaign, Jal  Sanchay  Jan  Bhagidari  (JSJB)  initiative,  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana,  PMKSY  and MGNREGS schemes etc.
-  The ground water pollution also owes its origin to contamination of surface water sources for which various efforts have been made in the country like installing Sewage Treatment Plants, Effluent Treatment Plants and better system of sewage networks etc. Under National Mission  for  Clean  Ganga  (NMCG)  and  National  River  Conservation  Plan  (NRCP),  the government  has  initiated  several  steps  for  improving  the  water  quality  along  major  river stretches of the country.

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## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) & (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  829  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  04.12.2025  REGARDING  'FLUORIDE CONTAMINATION IN GROUNDWATER'.

Details of ground water sample analysis for Panna and Chhatarpur Districts of Madhya Pradesh

|   Sl. No. | District   |   No. of samples analysed for Basic parameters | No. of samples exceeding Permissible limit for Fluoride (F) (> 1.5mg/L)   | No. of samples exceeding Permissible limit for Nitrate (NO3) (> 45 mg/L)   |   No. of samples analysed for Trace parameters | No. of samples exceeding Permissible limit for Arsenic (As) (>10 ppb)   |
|-----------|------------|------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Panna      |                                             31 | 0 (0.0%)                                                                  | 4 (12.90%)                                                                 |                                             02 | 0 (0.0%)                                                                |
|         2 | Chhatarpur |                                             16 | 0 (0.0%)                                                                  | 1 (6.25%)                                                                  |                                             01 | 0 (0.0%)                                                                |

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