Of the 47,873 rural habitations reported to have quality issues in drinking water sources, as many as 1,132 are in Punjab and just one in neighbouring Haryana, according to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) which generates groundwater quality data on a regional scale as part of its groundwater quality monitoring programme and scientific studies.
The studies indicate the occurrence of contaminants, including Arsenic and heavy metals, beyond permissible limits (as per Bis) for human consumption in isolated pockets in various states/UTs, according to a written reply of Minister of State of Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel to a question on contamination of groundwater by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal in the Lok Sabha.
According to CGWB data, in Punjab, Arsenic concentration in groundwater beyond permissible limit has been reported from 10 districts, Lead from 6 districts, Cadmium from 8 districts, Chromium from 10 districts and Uranium from 16 districts.