Farmers in Sangrur village await remedial measures for contaminated groundwater
The district administration here is yet to start remediation measures for the chemically contaminated groundwater in Aloarakh village, where tube wells are discharging coloured toxic water due to dumping of hazardous waste by a defunct chemical factory, even over a month after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the authorities to take remedial steps to check contamination of water in the area.
The NGT had on March 31 ordered the Punjab government to ensure remedial measures against contamination of groundwater in the village in Bhawanigarh block and to secure people’s guaranteed right to clean water. The NGT had fixed a deadline of six months to
execute the remediation plan. However, nothing has been done so far. A joint committee of the NGT, in its report, had blamed that a private chemical factory dismantled 15 years ago has caused contamination in ground water. It further stated that layers of blackish red sludge and blackish slurry were observed at the depth of about 8 to 10 feet at nearby sites of fields, indicating that unscientific dumping of hazardous waste by the factory during its operations/dismantling had resulted into leaching of contamination into the ground water, thereby causing contamination of aquifer over a period.
Farmers helpless
The farmers are forced to close these tube wells as no arrangements have been made for the release of contaminated water from them. Kulwinder Singh, 65, whose tube-well is spewing coloured water, said, “the administration has not even marked any tube well with ‘water not fit for drinking’ sign. They did not tell us what to do with the water coming from tube wells. Therefore, I have to keep it closed.
Contaminated crops making way to markets
The NGT report, had found concentration of zinc in crops up to the level of 33.9 mg/kg against the required 0.6 mg/kg.
“Zinc is an essential nutrient for human health but at the same time, it can be toxic in higher concentrations leading to various health complications, including reduction in immune function and levels of high density lipo-proteins besides affecting the absorption of copper and iron,” the report said. Deputy commissioner Jitendra Jorwal did not respond to repeated calls and messages. Rajiv Gupta, executive engineer, PPCB Sangrur, said, “recently chief secretary chaired a meeting to take remediation measures. We are in the process to hire an expert agency or institution to execute the remediation measures. Besides, we will install boards, which will tell that the water is not fit for consumption, within few days.”