NGT notice to Maha, other States
| Date :06-Jan-2024 |
Staff Reporter
The Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to 24 States, including Maharashtra, and four Union Territories (UTs) in a matter regarding the presence of arsenic and fluoride in groundwater. After taking suo motu cognisance on the matter, NGT asked the States to reply on this issue within one month and asked what mitigation measures had been taken so far by the States. The Principal Bench took the cognisance on the basis of the study conducted by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM) recently. According to the study, CGWB collected water samples from Maharashtra. The results of the samples of 22 districts of Maharashtra, including nine from Vidarbha, indicated fluoride concentration of more than 1.5 mg/L at several locations. Amravati, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, and Yavatmal districts of Vidarbha have this toxic substance in ground water.
Fluorine (F) is the most electronegative and reactive of all elements that occurs naturally within many types of rock. It exists in the form of fluorides in a number of minerals of which fluorspar, cryolitc, fluorite and fluorapatite are the most common. The fluoride found in groundwater is naturally occurring from the breakdown of rocks and soils or weathering and deposition of atmospheric particles. Small amount of fluoride (less than 1.0 mg/L) has proven to be beneficial in reducing tooth decay. Community water supplies are commonly treated with NO or fluorosilicates to maintain fluoride levels ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 mg/I, to reduce the occurance of dental cavities. However, high concentrations, such as 1.5 mg/I, of F and above have resulted in staining of tooth enamel while at still higher levels of fluoride ranging between 5.0 and 10 mg/I, further pathological changes such as stiffness of the back and difficulty in performing natural movements may take place. According to BIS, water with concentration of fluoride more than 1.5 mg/L, is not suitable for drinking purposes.
In the order, NGT said, “From the report, we find that presence of toxic elements like fluoride in ground water contaminates it and also causes serious toxic effects to human body are admitted, no effective steps have been taken by CGWA, though under law, it is the body responsible for regulating ground water. Report says that water is the subject of State and therefore, CGWA on its own is not capable of taking any serious action in the matter. Therefore, fluoride in ground water in such large number of states and districts is very serious and requires urgent preventive and protective steps by all concerned authorities,” said the Tribunal.