(a) whether as per the recent study report of UNICEF, the No. of districts with arsenic
and fluoride affected ground water in UP have increased from 20 in 2007 to 34 in 2011;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether level of arsenic, fluoride and other heavy metals have reached an alarming
level in 179 blocks of UP;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES & MINORITY AFFAIRS.
(SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) & (b) As per information received from U.P. Jal Nigam, testing for arsenic
contamination in drinking water of India Mark –II Hand Pumps was carried out in 51 districts,
with UNICEF support during 2005-2007. There was no new survey done in the year 2011. No
such study with UNICEF support has been carried out for testing for Fluoride contamination.
(c) & (d) As per the UNICEF assisted study for Arsenic, 74 blocks in 28 districts of
Uttar Pradesh are affected by arsenic contamination on the basis of the permissible limit
of 0.01 mg/lt prescribed by WHO. However, as per the Government of India standards of 0.05
mg/lt prevailing at that time only seven districts namely Ballia, Lakhimpur, Kheri, Behraich,
Gorakhpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli and Bareilly were found to be affected by Arsenic contamination.
Similarly, Water Quality Survey carried out by UP Jal Nigam in 2003, drinking water sources
in 207 blocks of 44 districts were affected by Fluoride contamination.No studies on heavy
metal contamination were carried out by UNICEF.
(e) Central Ground Water Board has been carrying out exploratory drilling in the arsenic
affected areas of the State to delineate arsenic free aquifers. So far, 23 exploratory wells
tapping arsenic free aquifer zones have been constructed in the districts of Ballia, Balrampur,
Gonda, Ghazipur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Mau & Siddharthnagar.Remedial measures for treatment of
water in the affected areas are undertaken by the concerned state government water supplying
agencies.However, Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation
supplements the efforts of the States by providing them the technical and financial assistance
under the centrally sponsored scheme of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).