Arsenic, fluoride in Haryana groundwater high

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Chandigarh, January 16

The arsenic level in a groundwater sample at Chhara village in Bahadurgarh (Jhajjar) is 0.299 mg/l, close to 30 times more than the permissible level. The sample was drawn from a hand pump. At Sui in Bawani Khera (Bhiwani), the arsenic level in the water of a dug well is 0.2 mg/l, 20 times the permissible level, while in the neighbouring Bohal village, a water sample from a dug well recorded more than 11 times the permissible limit.

The maximum permissible limit of arsenic for drinking purposes is 0.01 mg/l or 10 ppb. Arsenic has been recognised as a toxic element and is considered a health hazard. Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking water can cause cancer and skin lesions, says the WHO. It has also been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Groundwater in 51 habitations across 18 districts in Haryana is contaminated with arsenic, which includes nine in Karnal alone — Salwan, Nanhera, Kalra Jagir, Ghari Khajur, Nalvi Khurd, Ramba, Nalvi Kalan, Chorkarsa and Kurlan. There are six locations each in Sirsa and Bhiwani and five each in Rohtak and Sonepat.

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) recently shared the data on arsenic and fluoride contamination with the Haryana Water Resources (Conservation, Regulation and Management) Authority (HWRA).

There are 136 locations across 20 districts in Haryana where the groundwater is contaminated with fluoride.

At Loharwala village in Bhiwani, fluoride at a tubewell source was found at 22 mg/l, close to 15 times the permissible value.

The Central Ground Water Board says water with a concentration of fluoride more than 1.5 mg/l is not suitable for drinking purposes. High concentrations of fluoride such as 1.5 mg/l and above have resulted in staining of tooth enamel while higher levels ranging between 5 and 10 mg/l lead to pathological changes such as stiffness of the back and difficulty in performing natural movements.

At Atawala village in Panipat, the fluoride level is 16 mg/l, close to 11 times the permissible value. Uchana in Jind recorded 12 mg/l, eight times the permissible value.

There are 20 locations in Sirsa, 18 in Hisar, 13 in Bhiwani, 12 in Jind and 10 in Panipat where fluoride in groundwater is more than the permissible level.

The National Green Tribunal is also hearing a case related to arsenic and fluoride contamination of groundwater in several states and had issued a notice to Haryana on December 20, 2023, through the Chief Secretary, seeking a reply.

The chairperson of the Haryana Water Resources Authority, Keshni Anand Arora, will hold a meeting on the issue with the CM on January 18.

“Our agenda is that the authorities such as the Public Health Engineering Department, Urban Local Bodies Department and the Haryana Pollution Control Board should keep monitoring the quality of drinking water. Data on arsenic and fluoride contamination will be collected,” said Arora.

Can cause cancer, skin lesions

• Groundwater at 51 habitations in 18 districts in Haryana found contaminated with arsenic
• At 136 locations in 20 districts in the state, it has been found contaminated with fluoride
• Arsenic has been recognised as a toxic element and is considered a health hazard
• Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking water can cause cancer and skin lesions