Study groundwater for toxic elements, HC tells state govt
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a thorough analysis of groundwater samples in Punjab to determine whether elements other than uranium posed a health hazard.
The directive came amid concerns over uranium contamination in Doaba and Majha areas, with the court on a previous date of hearing emphasising that the testing must adhere to updated World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
“The counsel for the State of Punjab is directed to carry out analysis of the samples of collected groundwater to find out as to whether other elements found in the water, besides uranium, are harmful for consumption or not,” the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sudhir Singh asserted.
The court also instructed the Centre to evaluate the reports and suggest solution to the “problem being faced by the citizens of Punjab as regards traces of uranium found in the groundwater in various districts of the state”.
The court, on a previous date of hearing, had ordered comprehensive re-testing of water samples for uranium contamination in Punjab’s Doaba and Majha regions, following discrepancies in previous test standards. The court had made it clear that the water testing was required to be redone in accordance with the updated WHO standards.
Taking up the petition filed in 2010 against the Union of India and other respondents by Brijender Singh Loomba, the Bench had taken note of an affidavit filed on behalf of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant Chief Engineer stating that 11 samples, out of 4,406 tested, were found to be “infected” in districts such as Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Amritsar. The tests were based on the standards of “60 parts per billion (PPB)” recognised by the atomic energy regulatory body.
A report by Punjab’s Department of Local Government said three samples were found to be “infected with traces of uranium” out of 269 tested in Doaba and Majha regions. The standard applied for testing was 30 µg/l.
The Bench asserted the WHO had apparently re-fixed the standards of testing uranium content in water at 30 µg/l, while 60 µg/l-standard was previously used for testing 4,406 samples.
