(a) whether any study has been conducted by the Government on the impact of land and soil pollution in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the impact in urban and rural areas; and
(c) if not, the steps being taken by the Government to undertake such study in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE. ( SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (c). Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal has been conducting surveys and studies on impact of wastewater disposal on groundwater and crops grown by using waste-water. It is inferred from surveys in urban and peri-urban areas of Haryana that sewage and sewage mixed industrial effluents are used by farmers for irrigating lands for cultivation of vegetables, cereals and fodder crops either alone or in combination with groundwater. A problem of contamination of crops has been observed.
CSSRI has been conducting experiments on non food crops such as cut flowers, aromatic grasses and high transpiration rate forestry plantations (Eucalyptus), as well.