Problems
Holy water in the Punjab is becoming life-threatening
Punjab, a country of five rivers known for its extensive network of canals that help it survive as the country's food bowl, is witnessing a deterioration in the purity of its waters. Toxic water with a foul odor is reportedly flowing through the Kotla canal in Sangrur district, causing concern. Villagers claim that waste continues to be dumped into the canal. They are particularly concerned about the fact that the water is used in agriculture. The overuse of fertilizers and insecticides has already contaminated groundwater, which is probably responsible for the high incidence of cancer in some areas. Earlier, dead fish were found floating in the canals, probably due to toxicity and decreased oxygen levels in the water. The waters of the Gunga and Indira Gandhi canals, and spillways of the Sutlej, which flows into Rajasthan, have also previously been deemed unfit for consumption due to the discharge of toxic effluents into the river near Ludhiana. As the Sutlej crosses the Ludhiana, the waste is pumped into it through Budha Nullah and pollution is a concern in southwestern Malwa, as the river's waters are used to meet the drinking water needs of about 15 districts. Contaminated water from the Sutlej and Beas rivers entering Rajasthan through the Indira Gandhi Canal affects eight districts in western Rajasthan. The use of canal water for bathing, washing, and sewage disposal is prohibited, but the practice continues. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) appointed a committee to monitor pollution in the Sutlej and Bias rivers and last year fined Punjab 50 crores for not keeping its rivers clean, but the move does not seem to have had much effect. There are requirements for general sewage treatment plants to treat wastewater that is used only for industrial purposes and not mixed with drinking water. The discharge of untreated wastewater is the most important source of surface and groundwater pollution in India. In India, there is a large gap between the production and treatment of domestic wastewater. The problem is not only that India lacks sufficient treatment capacity, but also that the existing treatment plants are not working and are not maintained. Most public wastewater treatment plants remain closed most of the time due to improper design, poor maintenance, or lack of a reliable power supply to operate the plants, as well as absent employees and poor management. The wastewater generated at these sites usually seeps into the soil or evaporates. Uncollected waste accumulates in urban areas, creating unsanitary conditions and releasing contaminants that enter the surface and groundwater. Wastewater discharged from cities, towns and some villages is a major cause of water pollution in India. Investment is needed to bridge the gap between India's wastewater production and its wastewater treatment capacity per day. India's major cities produce 38,354 million liters of wastewater per day, but urban wastewater treatment capacity is only 11,786 million liters per day. It is high time for the state government to realize that the blatant neglect of the elixir of life can damage human health and productivity, and to take action to stop water pollution in Punjab.
Gallery
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Timelines
2023
November
Expressing concern over the findings of a study conducted by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, which uncovered water pollution in Punjab due to agricultural runoff, the National Green Tribunal(NGT) has issued notices to different departments of Punjab — Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), departments of water supply and sanitation and agriculture and farmers welfare. The Central Pollution Control Board and IIT-Mandi have also been impleaded parties in the case. The PPCB has been directed to file a report in response to facts disclosed in the study, including the issue of heavy metals, radioactive substances, pesticides and chemical pollutants found in the groundwater of the concerned area in sample testing within six weeks. The study highlighted an increase in demand for groundwater, local farmers exploiting groundwater from deeper geological strata which have heavy metals and a few are radioactive, having serious health impacts. Such incidents relating to the decline in water quality are mainly in the southwestern region of Punjab.
February
Punjabi University Patiala has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against water pollution. The Chemistry department at the university has developed a low-cost, highly efficient and specific solution to tackle the emerging dangers posed by water pollution. The solution called the core-shell Molecule Imprinted Polymers (MIP), has been designed to extract harmful pollutants from water and purify it effectively. According to researchers, the conventional procedures used to remove these pollutants are ineffective and expensive, and new types of contaminants that are emerging from pesticides, creams, water bottles, and pharmaceuticals are poisoning the water. The MIPs detect new types of pollutants using a fluorescent method, which is the fastest way to detect pollutants. The molecules created during the research can absorb these pollutants and help in purifying the water. This ground-breaking invention offers a comprehensive strategy for combating the dangers of water contamination. The development of core-shell MIPs is a significant breakthrough that will have a positive impact on the environment and human health. The research team's efforts in developing this solution will undoubtedly inspire further innovations in the fight against water pollution.
2022
July 21
India's Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was hospitalized after drinking "contaminated river water to prove that the water is clean." However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), of which Mann is a member, denied that the chief minister was infected. They said he went to the hospital for a "routine examination."
2021
August 22
New data shared by the Jal Shakti Ministry in Parliament suggests that the problem may be spiraling out of control. According to the data, 16 districts of Punjab contain more than the permissible amount of uranium in underground water. There are also other heavy metals in dangerous concentrations: arsenic and chromium (above the permissible norms in 10 districts), cadmium (eight), and lead (six). Sanjiv Jain, a senior adviser at the department, said that "several investigations will be conducted soon to find out the exact reasons." In the short term, the Punjab government has issued tenders for the installation of public water treatment plants to be installed in the more affected areas as an interim measure before implementing long-term plans.
2020
February 22
The CAG report said that 40 percent of groundwater in the state is contaminated with chemicals and heavy metals beyond permissible limits. While 10 percent of this is unsafe even for irrigation, 30 percent is slightly or moderately saline/alkaline but not usable by humans. Without following Bureau of Indian Standards norms, 16 districts were found to have fluoride levels above the permissible limit (which is 1.5 mg per 1 liter); in 19 districts – nitrates (there was more than 45 mg in 1 liter); in six districts - arsenic (was more than 0.05 mg) and in nine districts - iron (was more than 1.0 mg). The CAG noted that Punjab has the maximum percentage of wells showing groundwater depletion and is among the 10 most affected states in India (pre-monsoon 2018 data). Punjab is extracting water from the ground at the highest rate in the country. The report found that groundwater extraction increased from 149% in 2013 to 165% in 2018. Coming to the cause, the CAG said that the main culprit is paddy cultivation.
2019
November 27
In August this year, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) filed a criminal case against the mayor, commissioner, and four other officials of the Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana, a major industrial hub in the northern state of Punjab. The accusation consisted of non-compliance with environmental legislation at the existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The incident highlighted the seriousness of the environmental problem engulfing Ludhiana. But this was not the first time that samples at the National Technical Center did not pass quality control. Pollution, especially water pollution, has plagued the industrial hub for years and it earned the tag of one of India's most polluted areas back in 2010. Testing of the river water has shown that it remains Class C up to the confluence with Buddha Nulla. Class C means it can be used for drinking with normal treatment followed by disinfection. However, downstream of the confluence, the water quality deteriorates to the worst possible class E, which is only suitable for irrigation, industrial cooling, and controlled disposal. Several studies over the years have found heavy metals, chemicals, and organic compounds in water supplied to households in southern Punjab and Rajasthan.
2018
June 12
The Rajasthan government has asked the CPCB to assess the extent of pollution through joint monitoring of rivers and their tributaries and canals leaving Punjab at Harike. As a result of this complaint received from Rajasthan, CPCB, and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) along with the Rajasthan Water Board conducted monitoring. Documents show that joint monitoring was conducted in July 2017 in the Sutlej River and other point sources discharging into the Sutlej and canals, namely Rajasthan Feeder Canal, Indira Gandhi Canal, and Ferozepur/Sirhind originating from Punjab. The study showed that the water quality of the Sutlej River deteriorates in terms of dissolved oxygen (DO) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) after the confluence of the East Bain and Budha Nallah rivers. It was also found that the number of coliforms exceeded the established water quality criteria in all monitoring locations.
2014
February 27
As rising demand holds back water supplies, the Punjab government is stepping up efforts to provide rural households with safe, treated water. Today, Punjab leads the way among Indian states in providing safe water to rural people. Most rural homes receive more than 40 liters of water per capita per day (lpcd), an amount sufficient for household needs. The state eventually plans to increase this to 70 lpcd or more. Given the lack of non-governmental organizations in Punjab, state engineers worked closely with residents to implement the program. Engineers attribute the program's success to the promise of rural Punjab communities, especially their strong interest in improving water supplies. In addition, a state-of-the-art laboratory is being set up in Mohali, near the state capital, Chandigarh, to test for harmful substances. Also, the Mumbai-based Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) is actively involved in tackling uranium pollution.
2013
October 14
Despite claims by the Punjab government and the state Pollution Control Board (PPCB) that the emphasis is on ensuring a clean and green environment in the state, the practice of dumping domestic waste and untreated industrial effluents into drains, rivers, and waterways has not stopped in Jalandhar and Kapurthala. This started affecting the health of people in many parts of Jalandhar and Kapurthala.
2012
July 13
Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has confirmed the presence of uranium and other heavy metals in groundwater in Punjab, especially in the Malwa region, and serious efforts are underway to control the damage. The Malwa fertile belt in southwestern Punjab, an area south of the Sutlej River that includes Mansa, Bathinda, Moga, Faridkot, Barnala, Sangrur, and parts of Ludhiana, is most affected. Ramesh acknowledged during his visit here last week that significant amounts of uranium, arsenic, mercury, and other heavy metals had been found in the groundwater samples examined from Punjab. "The levels of uranium in the groundwater exceed WHO standards by 50 percent. The source of this is not yet known. Punjab is the only state whose water contains uranium," Mr. Ramesh said. Of the 2,462 water samples taken from tube wells across Punjab, 1,140 samples tested positive for uranium and arsenic. The consequences of all this can be seen in the increasing number of patients with cancer and other diseases in the Malwa belt, as well as in the birth of children with abnormalities. The train connecting Bathinda with Bikaner in neighboring Rajasthan is known as the "Cancer Express" because it transports large numbers of cancer patients from Punjab to Bikaner for treatment at a cancer hospital. Environmentalists blame the widespread use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals for groundwater contamination as Punjab led the green revolution and became the No. 1 food-grain-producing state in the country. The Punjab government has sought technical assistance from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) to address the growing problem of uranium in groundwater. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the Punjab government would launch a war against uranium water pollution that affects only Punjab. Badal said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allocate a special budget to address the uranium problem, as has been done in the case of arsenic and fluoride pollution.
2010
August 16
The water pollution problem in India has had disastrous consequences. Children living in villages on the India-Pakistan border went blind after drinking contaminated water for a long time. Shankar Singh, 22, lost his sight ten years ago. His younger brother Visakha Singh, who also had no vision problems at birth, lost his sight as he grew up.