Groundwater high in arsenic, no steps to protect food chain

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 16

Arsenic content in groundwater in the state has reached alarming proportions, but the government is yet to take steps to ensure that it does not get into the food chain.

While the Agriculture Department is yet to establish the impact of arsenic-rich water on farm products, the Water Supply and Sanitation Department is using modern technology to ensure safe water supply to residents.

A recent sampling of groundwater by the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation has found alarmingly high arsenic content in samples taken from Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur. While other districts also fair poorly, these three districts top the list. As per records, Punjab has the highest per hectare usage of pesticides in the country.

“Excessive tapping of groundwater through shallow tubewells for irrigation, particularly for rabi/summer crops, is a major cause for arsenic contamination in crop produce. It may adversely impact human, animal and environmental health,” read a recent report submitted to the Agriculture Department.

The report claims that there is no direct link between high arsenic content and cancer. “It is a major reason for many other diseases in humans and animals,” it said, High arsenic content has been found in vegetables such as cauliflower, ladyfinger and foodgrain such as paddy.

Despite over 1,500 cancer deaths per day in the country, the matter is not taken seriously as the Agriculture Department still trying to figure a mechanism to deal with the situation. “The effect of high arsenic content in water on agriculture produce is not established as we are yet to do a comprehensive study or use technology to deal with it,” Rajesh Vashisht, Joint Director, Agriculture (Hydrology).

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Veenkshi Sharma, Director WSS, water quality, said: “We are installing a nano-technology based project to supply water to Amritsar and Gurdaspur belt which will check arsenal flow in drinking water.” She said more steps were required to be taken to check its impact on humans through wheat and paddy.

Umendra Dutt of Kheti Virasat Mission says he is worried about the impact of arsenic water on farm produce. “This is exactly why we are educating farmers on minimising the use of groundwater to reduce arsenic in food chain,” he says.