Arsenic & fluoride contamination: Assam Government to submit report by January

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Government will have to submit a report to the NGT (National Green Tribunal) by January end stating what preventive measures it has taken to keep arsenic and fluoride contamination in groundwater at bay.

According to the latest report of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), the arsenic and fluoride contamination levels in 21 districts in Assam are above normal.

According to official sources, the State Government received a directive from the NGT to submit the action-taken report stating the remedial measures it has taken in this regard. The NGT issued such directives to other states as well.

According to sources, the CGWA report said that’severe toxic effects of these chemicals on the human body lead to health hazards. It is the responsibility of the state governments concerned to take preventive measures to keep arsenic and fluoride contaminations at bay’.

Based on the CGWA report, the NGT termed the situation very serious and stressed the need for urgent preventive and productive measures by all authorities concerned. NGT will hear the state governments concerned on February 15 after receiving their action-taken reports on this twin problem.

According to the CGWA report, in Jorhat, Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, etc., the arsenic contamination in groundwater is above 0.01 mg per litre. In Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Goalpara, Karbi Anglong, Darrang, Karimganj, etc., districts, fluoride contamination in groundwater is above 1.5 mg per litre.

According to PHE (Public Health Engineering) sources, they have taken measures wherever they have detected arsenic and fluoride contamination, besides making arrangements for water supply from facilities other than groundwater. The department has also provided filters to consumers at some places. The sources, however, said that the measures taken fell short of covering the entire affected population.

Dental and skeletal fluorosis, cancer, liver problems, lung problems, etc. are the diseases that may occur due to the consumption of arsenic and fluoride-contaminated water.

According to sources, several factors like climate change, scanty rainfall, and any kind of anthropogenic stress on aquifers like pumping irrigation and return flow lead to changes in the saturation condition of groundwater and thereby enhance the release of arsenic and fluoride into water.

Also read:   Arsenic & Fluoride Contamination still a Problem to reckon with in Assam

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