Gangetic basin states affected by arsenic contamination

New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Ground water in several Gangetic basin states like West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam, has been found to contain arsenic beyond the permissible limit of 0.01 MG per litre.

Arsenic contamination was first detected in the 1980s in eastern Bhagirathi. The intermediate aquifiers in depth range of 20 to 100 metres in 79 blocks in eight districts were found to have been contaminated beyond the permissible limit 0.01 MG per litre.

Later studies have reported that the deeper aquifiers in the 12 districts of Bihar, five in UP, and one district each in Assam and Chhattisgarh was free from arsenic contamination.

Arsenic poisoning leads to death from multi-system organ failure.

The problem of arsenic contamination could be avoided by providing piped water from surface water sources, dilution of ground water with surface water, treating ground water using absorption or precipitation and coagulation technique and through rain water harvesting methods, an official release said.

UNI MCN Mir BD1948