Fluoride, Arsenic high in Assam's ground water

Guwahati, Apr 1 (UNI) Drinking and using of unbottled/untreated water in Assam is potentially hazardous as ground water in 23 districts has been contaminated with high fluoride and arsenic.

State Public Health Engineering (PHE) minister Rihon Daimary today said the government was very much concerned about the situation as five districts had high Fluoride content and 18 other districts had high Arsenic contamination. The state has total 27 districts.

The minister was replying to a debate in the assembly on Fluoride and Arsenic contamination of the state.

The government has already collected 33,000 water samples and of them 25,000 samples were being screened.

The government has procured seven ion meters, six UV meters for arsenic testing and one atomic absorption spito photo metere besides 76 field testing kits for investigation of water condition.

As the situation has become alarming, the PHE has so far provided 102 water supply schemes and 1117 bore wells. Efforts were on to popularise the rain water harvesting in the state.

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