Lok Sabha Question No. 1040 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Pollution Caused by Chemicals and Fertilizers Units
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Tariq Anwar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1040 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2025

## Pollution Caused by Chemicals and Fertilizers Units

## *1040:  SHRI TARIQ ANWAR :

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

(a)      whether the Government is aware of the present status of groundwater and land pollution attributed to the chemical and fertilizer units in Katihar region of Bihar;

(b)      if so, the details thereof;

(c)      the concrete remedial steps taken by the Government for measuring the pollution level and depolluting the affected areas along with the outcome thereof; and

(d)      the  finding  of  the  studies  conducted  to  ascertain  ill-effects  of  pollution  on  the health profile of the local residents and agriculture land of the region?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) & (b): As per the information received from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)  under  Department  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, no specific study has been conducted for ground water and land pollution attributed to the chemical and fertilizer units in Katihar region of Bihar. However, CGWB monitors groundwater quality at a regional scale across the country,  including  Katihar  district  of  Bihar,  as  per  the  approved  Standard  Operating Procedure (SOP).

Recently, the Annual Ground Water Quality Report - 2025 has been released by the CGWB. As per the Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025, groundwater quality for basic physico-chemical parameters (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, total hardness (TH), CO₃²⁻, HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, F⁻, PO₄³⁻ and NO₃⁻) was monitored at 10 locations in Katihar district. Localised  nitrate  contamination  was  observed  at  three  locations  (30%),  where  nitrate concentrations exceeded the BIS permissible limit of 45 mg/L (IS 10500:2012). All other monitored basic parameters were within the BIS drinking water limits. Further, as per the report, there are no trace elements (As, U, Fe etc.) have been found exceeding the BIS permissible limits for drinking water in Katihar district.

(c): Water  being  a  State  subject,  initiatives  for  water  management,  including  its quality is primarily the responsibility of the States. The role of Government of India is limited to being catalytic, providing technical support and, in some cases partial financial assistance in terms with the existing schemes being implemented by the Department of Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation.  However,  Central Government facilitates assessments and preventive action through following measures:

- i. CGWB  conducts  periodic  groundwater  quality  monitoring  to  identify  both contaminated and non-contaminated areas including urban areas in the country. To enhance monitoring efficiency, a new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for Groundwater  Quality  Monitoring  has  been  introduced,  incorporating  more frequent and denser sampling in vulnerable areas.
- ii. 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.
- iii. Under the National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) of CGWB, special attention is being given to the aspect of ground water quality.
- iv. To further accelerate the dissemination of knowledge on ground water quality, CGWB has initiated the practice of issuing ground water quality year book, halfyearly ground water quality Bulletins so that immediate action can be initiated in the reported areas.
- v. Fortnightly results of chemical analysis data are shared with State Government as Ground Water Quality Alerts since 17 June 2024.
- vi. 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.
- vii. 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,  which  are expected to improve the underground water table and also help in ameliorating the quality of ground water through dilution effect.

(d): CGWB has not taken up study to ascertain the ill-effects of pollution on the health profile of the local residents and agriculture land of the region.

*******