Groundwater found contaminated with arsenic, chromium in IICT

Bhadoi, Feb 29 (UNI) The presence of high quantity of Arsenic and Chromium particles in underground drinking water at the famous Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) compund here has raised everyone's eyebrow.

A committee set up under the auspices of Banaras Hindu University's (BHU) chemical department Prof A K S Sinha had taken water samples from the IICT compound.

The groundwater taken from the Institute's premises revealed the presence of arsenic and chromium at 3.4 and 2.9 milligramme per litre respectively, the report said.

However, the permissible limit of arsenic in drinking water as given in the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines is 0.01 milligramme per litre (10 ppb) and altogether of both the particles is 0.05 milligramme per litre.

The results have now become a matter of concern for students and staff members here, who are fearing the adverse affect of these chemicals on their health.

According to medicos, excess of arsenic and chromium in drinking water can cause deadly diseases like cancer and ulser.

Eariler, on February 24, the issue was raised in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly through an adjournment motion by Congress Legislature party leader Pramod Tiwari and BJP member Dr Radha Mohan Das Agarwal.

Mr Tiwari had blamed Bangladesh for the spread of arsenic in the country and said people residing in the Ganga Basin and using underground water for drinking had become prone to the disease leading to cancer.

''Arsenic entered India from Bangladesh through West Bengal and after Bihar it had come to UP,'' he had claimed.

Earlier, the water samples tested in the arsenic affected villages of Ballia and surrounding regions had arsenic levels ranging from 47 to 129 ppb, about five to 13 times than the permissible limit.

UNI XC-JAS SY HS1642