Lok Sabha Question No. 713 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Heavy Metal Contamination of Groundwater
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 713

ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025

## HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER

## 713.    Dr. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government has identified districts  and  States  where  groundwater  shows  high  levels  of heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, chromium, mercury and cadmium beyond permissible limits;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  extent  of  contamination  as  per  the  latest  assessment  by  the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB);

(c) whether the Government has undertaken periodic monitoring of heavy metal contamination through the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) and if so, the details thereof; and (d)  the  remedial  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  including  provision  of  safe  drinking water, remediation of contaminated aquifers and stricter regulation of industrial effluents?

## 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.  Further,  though  sampling  and  analysis  of  all  basic  parameters  like Electrical Conductivity (EC), Fluoride, Nitrate etc. are done regularly, trace parameter analysis is done for only select priority elements and heavy metals like Chromium, Mercury, Cadmium etc. are analyzed based on requirement only.

As  per  Annual  Ground  water  Quality  Report,  2025  of  CGWB,  during  Pre-Monsoon  and  PostMonsoon 2024, CGWB collected and analyzed 3,415 groundwater samples from 26 States/UTs for Arsenic and 2,537 samples from 21 States/UTs for Lead. The analysis revealed that 123 samples (3.6%), out of 3,415,  exceeded  the  permissible  limit  of  10  ppb  for  Arsenic,  while  24  samples  (0.95%),  out  of  2,537, exceeded  the permissible limit of 0.01  mg/L  for Lead. State-wise details of  Arsenic  and  Lead contamination along with the affected districts are provided in Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.

(c) As  part  of  the  National  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  Programme  (NAQUIM),  CGWB undertakes comprehensive aquifer mapping and conducts analysis of groundwater levels and quality of the study area. Further, while taking up such aquifer studies, special attention is being given to the aspect of ground water quality including contamination by toxic substances such as heavy metals.

Outcome of such quality  analysis  including  heavy  metal  assessment  is  being  incorporated  in  the NAQUIM studies report along with suitable remedial measures. The findings of NAQUIM studies have been shared with respective State line departments and district administrations.

(d) 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  for  provision  of  safe  drinking  water, identification, reporting and remediation of aquifer contamination and regulation of industrial effluents are mentioned below:-

- i. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal, being implemented by this Ministry in partnership with states, marks an important milestone for providing contamination free potable tap water to every rural household of the country in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & longterm basis. Following measures have been taken under JJM to facilitate action on water quality aspects at state level :-
2.  Water safety has been one of the key priorities under the JJM since its inception. Under the  JJM,  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards'  BIS:10500  standards  have  been  adopted  as prescribed norms for quality of tap water service delivery.
3.  While  allocating  the  funds  to  States/UTs,  10%  weightage  is  given  to  the  population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.
4.  The 'Drinking Water Quality Monitoring  & Surveillance Framework' was devised and disseminated to states in October 2021.
5.  To  facilitate  implementation  of  the  above  said  Framework,  around  2180  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). States/UTs have been advised to carry out testing of water quality on a regular basis and take remedial action wherever necessary to ensure that the water supplied to households is of prescribed quality.
6.  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. The ground water quality data generated by CGWB including that for heavy metal contamination, is  regularly  disseminated  through  Annual  Reports,  Half-yearly  Bulletins  and  Fortnightly  Alerts for quick action by the stakeholders.
- iii. In  order  to  enhance  monitoring  efficiency,  a  new  Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SoP)  for Groundwater Quality Monitoring has been adopted by CGWB, which stipulates more frequent and denser sampling, particularly in vulnerable areas to ensure a more comprehensive assessment of groundwater quality.
- iv. CGWB has also developed an innovative cement sealing technology for tapping deeper Arsenic free  aquifers  in  the  Arsenic  affected  areas  and  has  so  far  successfully  constructed  525  Arsenic safe exploratory wells, including 40 wells in Bihar, 191 in West Bengal and 294 in Uttar Pradesh. CGWB  is  also  providing  technical  assistance  to  state  departments  for  taking  up  similar constructions.
- v. Improvement in ground water quality can also be achieved to some extent by taking up artificial recharge of contaminated aquifers, which dilutes the contaminants to reduce their adverse effects. Accordingly,  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.
- vi. 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.
- vii. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) is implementing the provisions of the Water (Prevention  &  Control)  Act,  1974  and  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  to  prevent  and control pollution in water. CPCB has made a comprehensive programme on water pollution for controlling  point  sources  by  developing  industry  specific  standards  and  general  standards  for discharge of effluents notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for enforcement by SPCBs/PCCs.

***

## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 713 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.12.2025 REGARDING 'HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER'.

## State-wise details of Arsenic (As) sample analysis : Based Annual Ground Water Quality Report, 2025

|    | S.No.State/UT     |   Total No. of Samples Analyzed |   No. of Samples having As > 10 ppb |   % of Samples Having As > 10ppb |   No. of Districts wherein Arsenic has been reported in isolated pockets (As > 10ppb) | Names of Districts wherein Arsenic has been reported in isolated pockets (As > 10 ppb)   |
|----|-------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  1 | A&N Islands       |                              28 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
|  2 | Arunachal Pradesh |                              15 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
|  3 | Assam             |                             154 |                                   4 |                             2.6  |                                                                                     4 | Golaghat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nalbari                                                     |
|  4 | Bihar             |                              13 |                                   6 |                            46.15 |                                                                                     4 | Bhojpur, Buxar, Madhubani, Sheohar                                                       |
|  5 | Chandigarh        |                               8 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
|  6 | Chhattisgarh      |                             257 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
|  7 | Delhi             |                              86 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
|  8 | Goa               |                               6 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
|  9 | Gujarat           |                             114 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
| 10 | Haryana           |                             160 |                                   2 |                             1.25 |                                                                                     1 | Sonipat                                                                                  |
| 11 | Jammu& Kashmir    |                              17 |                                   2 |                            11.76 |                                                                                     1 | Jammu                                                                                    |
| 12 | Karnataka         |                             118 |                                   2 |                             1.69 |                                                                                     2 | Gadag, Raichur                                                                           |
| 13 | Kerala            |                             185 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
| 14 | Madhya Pradesh    |                              49 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
| 15 | Manipur           |                               3 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
| 16 | Meghalaya         |                              38 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
| 17 | Nagaland          |                              66 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
| 18 | Odisha            |                             413 |                                   6 |                             1.45 |                                                                                     4 | Bhadark, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Sundargarh                                                   |
| 19 | Punjab            |                             296 |                                  27 |                             9.12 |                                                                                     6 | Amritsar, Ferozpur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Tarn Taran                           |
| 20 | Rajasthan         |                             100 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
| 21 | Tamil Nadu        |                             286 |                                   5 |                             1.75 |                                                                                     5 | Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukkudi, Tiruvannamalai                    |
| 22 | Tripura           |                              44 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |
| 23 | UT of Puducherry  |                               7 |                                   0 |                             0    |                                                                                     0 |                                                                                          |

| 24   | Uttar Pradesh   |   612 |   23 |   3.76 |   14 | Bahraich , Balrampur, Ballia, Barabanki, Bareilly, Bijnor, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, Lakhimpur Kheri , Moradabad, Pilibhit , Rampur, Sambhal, Shahjahanpur   |
|------|-----------------|-------|------|--------|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 25   | Uttarakhand     |   104 |    0 |   0    |    0 |                                                                                                                                                           |
| 26   | West Bengal     |   236 |   46 |  19.49 |    6 | Coochbehar, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas                                                                               |
|      | Total           |  3415 |  123 |   3.6  |   47 |                                                                                                                                                           |

## ANNEXURE-II

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 713 TO BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 04.12.2025  REGARDING  'HEAVY  METAL CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER'.

State-wise details of Lead (Pb) sample analysis: Based Annual Ground Water Quality Report, 2025

|    | S.No.State/UT     |   Total No. of Samples Analyzed |   No. of Samples (Pb 0.01 mg/L) |   > %of Samples (Pb > 0.01 mg/L) |   No. of Districts Wherein Lead reported in pockets (Pb > |    | has been isolated 0.01mg/L) Names of Districts Wherein Lead been reported in pockets (Pb > mg/L)   | has isolated 0.01   |
|----|-------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|    | Arunachal Pradesh |                              15 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 | 1  |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 2  | Assam             |                             155 |                               5 |                             3.23 |                                                         4 |    | Cachar, Dibrugarh, Kamrup, Udalguri                                                                |                     |
| 3  | Bihar             |                              12 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 4  | Chandigarh        |                               8 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 5  | Delhi             |                              86 |                               8 |                             9.3  |                                                         4 |    | North, North West, South West, West                                                                |                     |
| 6  | Goa               |                               6 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 7  | Haryana           |                             160 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 8  | Jammu& Kashmir    |                              12 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 9  | Karnataka         |                             118 |                               1 |                             0.85 |                                                         1 |    | Raichur                                                                                            |                     |
| 10 | Madhya Pradesh    |                              28 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 11 | Manipur           |                               3 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 12 | Meghalaya         |                              38 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 13 | Nagaland          |                              67 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 14 | Odisha            |                             413 |                               3 |                             0.73 |                                                         2 |    | Nuapada, Sambalpur                                                                                 |                     |
| 15 | Punjab            |                             296 |                               1 |                             0.34 |                                                         1 |    | Hoshiarpur                                                                                         |                     |
| 16 | Rajasthan         |                              98 |                               2 |                             2.04 |                                                         2 |    | Barmer, Bhilwara                                                                                   |                     |
| 17 | Tamil Nadu        |                             286 |                               2 |                             0.7  |                                                         2 |    | Tiruppur, Viluppuram                                                                               |                     |
| 18 | Tripura           |                              44 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 19 | UT of Puducherry  |                               7 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
| 20 | Uttar Pradesh     |                             581 |                               2 |                             0.34 |                                                         2 |    | Budaun, Chandauli                                                                                  |                     |
| 21 | Uttarakhand       |                             104 |                               0 |                             0    |                                                         0 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |
|    | Total             |                            2537 |                              24 |                             0.95 |                                                        18 |    |                                                                                                    |                     |

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