Punjab Groundwater Becoming More Toxic

[Greater-Punjab]

Chandigarh, June 5

Over 80 per cent of Punjab’s groundwater is unfit for human consumption, with arsenic toxicity touching an all-time high.

Whereas the safe limit for arsenic content in water is 10 parts per billion (ppb), its concentration in groundwater samples taken from different districts of Punjab ranges from 3.5 ppb to 688 ppb in the south-western districts, where the incidence of cancer is also rising. Jajjal, Makhana and Giana villages are the most affected, with arsenic in water reaching dangerous levels.

Soil scientists from Punjab Agricultural University, who visited these villages for their latest study, found that water and vegetable samples here didn’t have high pesticide content. However, groundwater used for drinking and domestic purposes had lethal arsenic concentration.

In the arid south-west, comprising Sangrur, Mansa, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, Ferozepur, not a single water sample was found fit for drinking. Arsenic pollution varied from 11.4 to 688 ppb, averaging 76.8 ppb.

Scientists also found buffalo milk in these districts, especially in Talwandi Sabo and Gidderbaha blocks, contaminated with arsenic. Content ranged from 208 to 279 ppb. Consumption of shallow hand pump water with high salt and arsenic levels is the cause, Dr V. Beri, head of soils department, PAU, said.

He added, “Arsenic concentration was lesser in hand pumps close to canals, ponds and water tanks where continuous flow of canal water diluted toxic elements. In samples from hand pumps far from canal water sources, arsenic content was dangerously high.”

In the south-west, groundwater level earlier was 80 feet deep. Now it is 30 feet deep or lesser. As long as water was being drawn from old deep wells, there was negligible disease. But with hand pumps replacing old wells, cancers of lung and skin are on the rise. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US has also shown arsenic’s association with lung and skin cancers.

The situation in other districts is no better. In zone 1, comprising Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Ropar, arsenic in groundwater varied 3.5 to 42 ppb, averaging 23.4 ppb. In zone II comprising Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Patiala, Mohali, Barnala and Moga, the content varied from 9.8 to 42.5 ppb, averaging 24.1 ppb.

When seen against arsenic safe limits, only 3 and 1 per cent of groundwater samples collected from zones I and II, respectively, were fit for drinking purposes. After analyses of samples, scientists issued guidelines for the populations of the affected areas to follow.

Said Dr H.S. Hundal, main author of the study, accepted for publication in the journal “Communications in Soil Sciences and Plant Analyses, USA”, “Wherever possible they should take water from canal sources for drinking. Only hand pumps located close to ponds should be used. If normal hand pump water is to be used, it should be left overnight for aeration and then consumed.”

Other authors of the study are Raj Kumar, Dhanwinder Singh and Kuldip Singh.

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

This may be the biggest issue yet to face Punjab and its people.

Truly disturbing. I hope everyone can unite on this issue regardless of religion. I remember watching something which said in the future, wars will not be fought over oil, but over access to drinking water.

[S1ngh]

I don't want to say but i am very much sure that in environment/nature issues.. Punjab is like a time bomb.. just few more years everything will be wiped off and there will be chaos in pollution, disease/health and water problems.. It was in news that ONLY 3% of punjab is covered with trees which is devastating news to hear.

Cancer is all time high because of pesticide spraying without protection

Water problems as its depth is at all time low and plus toxic/polluted water

Trees are gone in the name of modernization..

I agree with MKL that this issue requires all punjabi regardless of religion to take care of our homeland..

[Greater-Punjab]

You guys are right, but we have to do something, it is our country(Punjab) our brother and sister lives there, and overall this is our Guru land