GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY
OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4600
ANSWERED ON 27.03.2025
ARSENIC LEVEL IN GROUNDWATER IN UTTAR PRADESH
†4600. SHRI DEVESH SHAKYA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the arsenic level in groundwater has been found to be more than 0.01 mg/litre in 45 districts of Uttar Pradesh including Etah, Kasganj, Mainpuri, Kannauj and Auraiya;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the efforts made/being made by the Government to alleviate this contamination and implement corrective measures in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any health impact assessment in the arsenic affected areas and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to increase public awareness about the dangers of arsenic exposure and to promote safe drinking water practices?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data on a regional scale as part of its ground water quality monitoring program and various scientific studies. As per the latest data of Annual Ground Water Quality Report – 2024, prepared by CGWB, occurrence of Arsenic in ground water in excess of the prescribed limits has been reported in isolated pockets of 29 districts in Uttar Pradesh. District-wise distribution of Arsenic beyond permissible limit (> 0.01 mg/liter) in Uttar Pradesh is attached at Annexure. Water being a State subject, sustainable development and management of groundwater resources, including the quality aspect is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. However, the Central Government facilitates the efforts of the State Governments, including Uttar Pradesh, through technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and projects. In this direction, the important steps taken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other central ministries are given below :-
• Data on ground water quality available with CGWB are shared in public domain through reports and also shared with concerned State Governments for taking necessary remedial measures. To further accelerate the dissemination of knowledge on ground water quality, CGWB has initiated 2 the practice of issuing half-yearly ground water quality Bulletins and fortnightly Alerts so that immediate action can be initiated in the reported areas.
• Under the National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) of CGWB, special attention is being given to the aspect of ground water quality including contamination by toxic substances such as Arsenic in ground water. CGWB is also successfully constructing Arsenic free wells in arsenic affected areas using the innovative cement sealing technology for tapping contamination free aquifers. So far, 294 exploratory wells tapping arsenic safe aquifers have been constructed under NAQUIM programme in Uttar Pradesh. Moreover, as per the information received, the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, has also adopted this technology and constructed 204 well using cement sealing technology in 9 Districts benefiting 5 lakh inhabitants
. • CPCB has made a comprehensive programme on water pollution for controlling point sources the main components of which are developing industry specific standards and general standards for discharge of effluents notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India to be enforced by the SPCBs / PCCs through consent mechanism; Establishment of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) for cluster of Small Scale Industries; Installation of Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) by Grossly Polluting Industries for getting real time information on the effluent quality etc.
• Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) since August, 2019 to provide potable tap water supply of prescribed quality and on regular & long term basis to every rural household in the country. Under the JJM, Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS: 10500 standards have been adopted as prescribed norms for quality of tap water service delivery. Water safety has been one of the key priorities under the JJM since its inception.
• Under JJM, while planning water supply schemes to provide tap water supply to house-holds, priority is given to quality-affected habitations. While allocating the funds to States/ UTs in a particular financial year, 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants, including Arsenic. (c) Use of Ground Water for drinking purpose having Arsenic beyond the permissible limits over a prolonged period of time is known to cause several adverse health effects. As per the information provided by M/o Health & Family Welfare, Arsenic exposure can cause skin lesions, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and developmental issues in children. 3 (d) Several measures have been initiated by the Union Government to raise public awareness regarding dangers of Arsenic exposure:
• Firstly, technical guidelines for “Detection, Prevention and Management of Arsenicosis in India” have been prepared by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and shared with the affected States for use by the health authorities and programme managers. These are also to be used for training of field functionaries such as medical officers, paramedical workers, etc.
• In order to create awareness of disease symptoms and prevention of Arsenicosis, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also shared Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material with the affected States. • Further, CGWB conducts Public Interaction Programmes (PIPs) at the grassroots level for dissemination of outputs of scientific studies being carried out by CGWB and to raise public awareness about ground water related issues including the issues of contamination by toxic elements like Arsenic.
• In order to take the awareness on drinking water quality to the grassroots, under Jal Jeevan Mission, the “Drinking Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Framework” was devised and disseminated to states in October 2021. To facilitate implementation of the above said Framework, more than 2100 water quality testing laboratories have been set up in the country. Besides this, five persons, preferably women, are identified and trained from every village for testing the water samples through Field Test Kits (FTKs). So far, more than 24 lakh women have been in the country, with 5.53 lakh in Uttar Pradesh.