Ground Water Pollution in India

Context:

The 2024 Annual Groundwater Quality Report by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reveals alarming levels of groundwater contamination across India, posing severe public health and environmental risks.

Significance of Ground Water in India:

Dependence: Over 85% of rural drinking water and 65% of irrigation needs are met through groundwater.
Vulnerability: Despite the monsoonal system and vast river network, India is increasingly dependent on groundwater due to erratic rainfall, limited surface water storage, and agricultural demands.

Nature and Extent of Ground Water Pollution:

Nitrate Contamination
- Cause: Excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, leaching from septic systems.
- Impact: Blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia), especially in Punjab, Haryana, and Karnataka.
- Data: 56% of districts exceed safe nitrate levels; 28% rise in hospital admissions from acute toxicity in five years.
Fluoride Contamination
- Cause: Natural geogenic sources, aggravated by over-extraction.
- Impact: Dental and skeletal fluorosis, especially in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
- Data: 230 districts affected; 66 million people suffer from fluorosis; levels in Shivpuri (MP) reach 2.92 mg/L.
Arsenic Contamination
- Cause: Geogenic origin, intensified by unregulated groundwater extraction.
- Impact: Cancer, neurological disorders, respiratory issues.
- Data: Ballia (UP) records 200 µg/L (20x WHO limit); Bagpat (UP) reports 40 mg/L (4000x WHO limit).
Uranium Contamination
- Cause: Phosphate fertilizers, excessive withdrawal.
- Impact: Nephrotoxicity, organ damage.
- Data: Detected in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan; 66% of samples hazardous to children.
Heavy Metals and Industrial Waste
- Cause: Unchecked industrial discharge.
- Impact: Developmental delays, anaemia, immune damage.
- Example: Lead exposure in Kanpur (UP) and Vapi (Gujarat).
Pathogen Contamination (Sewage and Septic Leakages)
- Impact: Outbreaks of cholera, hepatitis A and E, dysentery.
- Example: Over 500 affected in Paikarapur, Bhubaneswar.

Structural and Policy failures:

Institutional Fragmentation
- CGWB, CPCB, SPCBs, and Ministry of Jal Shakti operate in silos without coordination.
Weak Legal Framework
- The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 inadequately covers groundwater.
- CGWB lacks statutory powers; enforcement is poor.
Poor Monitoring and Transparency
- Lack of real-time, publicly available data.
- No early warning systems or integration with health surveillance.
Over-extraction
- Results in aquifer depletion and higher concentration of geogenic pollutants.

Case Studies (Groundwater Death Zones)

Budhpur, Baghpat (UP): 13 deaths due to industrial discharge contaminating borewells.
Jalaun (UP): Petroleum-like fluid detected from hand pumps.
Ballia (UP): 10,000+ arsenic-linked disease cases.
Jhabua (MP): 40% tribal children affected by fluoride.

Health and Social Impacts:

Chronic illness, disability, stunted growth in children.
Economic burdens on families due to long-term health care.
Disproportionate impact on rural and tribal populations.

Way Forward:

Policy and Legal Reforms
- Enact a comprehensive National Groundwater Pollution Control Framework.
- Empower CGWB with statutory authority.
Scientific Monitoring
- Develop real-time water quality monitoring systems.
- Establish a National Water Quality Surveillance Grid.
Technological Interventions
- Promote community-based de-fluoridation, arsenic removal filters.
- GIS mapping and remote sensing for contamination tracking.
Health and Social Interventions
- Link groundwater surveillance with public health programs.
- Promote nutrition-based mitigation (e.g., calcium-rich diets).
Institutional Coordination and Accountability
- Set up an inter-agency task force to coordinate action across CGWB, CPCB, SPCBs.
- Ensure industries comply with zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) norms.
Community Participation and Awareness
- Decentralised water governance involving panchayats, SHGs.
- Promote water literacy campaigns.