Question : Contamination of Underground Water

(a) whether the Government has ever conducted any study on the adverse impact of contaminated underground water;
(b) if so, the details and outcome thereof and if not, the reasons there for;
(c) whether it is a fact that the pollution of underground water has increased in the country during last three years and the current year;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(e) whether cases of indiscriminate sand mining without obtaining prior clearance as mandated by the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 have come to the notice of the Government during the said period; and
(f) if so, the details thereof, State UT-wise and the reasons therefor along with its impact on pollution of underground water in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) to (d) Unscientific and unregulated dumping of waste may have adverse impact on ground water. The Government implements a World Bank aided project namely Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management Project (CBIPMP). One of the project outcomes is identification of contaminated sites under which 100 (hundred) such sites have been identified for further investigation and remediation, if needed. Based on preliminary investigation, 64 sites have been identified as sites with soil and/or groundwater contamination. Study of trend in pollution or otherwise of underground water is a subject matter of the project.

(e) & (f) 22 cases of indiscriminate sand mining, without obtaining prior clearance as mandated by the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, have come to the notice of the Government as given in Annexure. The concerned State Governments have been asked to take necessary action in case of indiscriminate sand mining. The Ministry, vide notification dated 15.01.2016, has delegated the Authority of Environmental Clearance up to 5 hectare of individual mining lease of minor minerals and 25 hectares in clusters to the District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) headed by the District Magistrate/ District Collector. The monitoring of mined out mineral, environmental clearance conditions and enforcement of Environment Management Plan is ensured by the DEIAA, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Pollution Control Board or Committee.
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