It’s poison, not water! Govt data shows toxic metals in groundwater
India Today
The central government has told the Rajya Sabha that in almost all the states of the country, the amount of toxic metals in groundwater has been found to be more than the prescribed standard.
The government has accepted in Parliament that the quality of water in the country is deteriorating. The figures given by the government in the Rajya Sabha are not only shocking, but also intimidating. As per these figures, the water that we have been drinking till now is 'poisonous'. Most of the districts, of almost all the states, of the country were found with excess amounts of toxic metals in the groundwater.
- In some parts of 209 districts of 25 states, the amount of arsenic in groundwater is more than 0.01 mg per liter.
- In some parts of 491 districts of 29 states, the amount of iron in groundwater is more than 1 mg per liter.
- In some parts of 29 districts of 11 states, the amount of cadmium in groundwater has been found to be more than 0.003 mg per liter.
- In some parts of 62 districts of 16 states, the amount of chromium in groundwater is more than 0.05 mg per liter.
- There are 152 districts in 18 states where more than 0.03 mg per liter of uranium has been found in the ground water.
According to a document of the Ministry of Jal Shakti , more than 80 per cent of the country's population gets water from the ground. Therefore, if the amount of hazardous metals in groundwater exceeds the prescribed standard, it means that the water is becoming 'poison'.
