Toxic groundwater
LITTLE progress seems to have been made in checking the alarming levels of toxic heavy metals and pollutants in groundwater that Punjab has been suffering from for decades. A recent report reaffirms the presence of dangerous concentrations of nitrate, iron, arsenic, selenium, chromium, manganese, nickel, cadmium, lead and uranium in groundwater. This is primarily attributed to the overuse of fertilisers and pesticides ever since Punjab embarked on the Green Revolution journey. While it has been feeding the hungry, the state, pitifully, has been left with a degrading water quality and its people contracting various ailments.
High levels of magnesium can cause depression and nerve problems, while excessive sodium intake can lead to nausea, muscle twitching and even death. The presence of uranium, lead, nickel and manganese exacerbates the risks, including carcinogenic ones. The public protest against the Zira distillery for discharging untreated effluents into groundwater completed two years on Thursday, epitomising the struggle against the problem. While CM Bhagwant Mann had ordered the distillery’s closure last year and sought a report — which has affirmed toxic contamination — the protesters are demanding that it be permanently shut.
Meanwhile, the government has taken certain measures to tackle the problem. These include the implementation of the ‘Soil Health Card’ scheme to educate farmers on proper fertiliser use and organic farming. The Central and Punjab pollution control boards have initiated legal proceedings against polluting industries. But, clearly, much more needs to be done. The Ministry of Jal Shakti must prioritise water quality monitoring and remediation, while farmers need to adopt sustainable practices to reduce dependency on harmful chemicals. They must be assured of support for crop diversification. Otherwise, the citizens’ wellbeing will remain compromised, turning a critical resource into a source of poison.
