CHANDIGARH: An experts’ committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has found that most of the tubewells and aquifers up to depth of 130 metre below ground level in village Alorakh of Bhiwanigarh block in Sangrur district are contaminated.
The committee had done sampling from tubewells varying between shallow (46 meter below ground level) to very deep (183 meter below ground level). The committee said that it has been observed that the tubewells affected by contamination are having depth of about 130 meter below ground level in the vicinity of a closed industry. “Considering the water levels of about 40 meter below ground level, about 80 meter to 90 meter thick aquifer zone has been contaminated,” reads the report.
The NGT was also informed that water from five locations out of total 22 locations in the village was found reddish in colour, indicating contamination. All these five borewells were also found to be having high total organic carbon, further indicating contamination with organic compounds. Two borewells were found to be having significant concentration of chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand whereas three borewells were found having high nitrate concentration.
The experts’ committee also submitted to the NGT that the sampling of the soil, agriculture crops and produce to determine the accumulation of contaminants in soil, crops and produce by the joint committee was conducted on October 27 after determining the affected area based on the Central Ground Water Authority report. The samples have been sent to the Punjab Biotechnology Incubator (PBTI) laboratory in Mohali and the results of the analysis are expected by November 25. The committee has sought a time of 15 days from the NGT to submit the final analysis report.
It was also submitted that based on the outcome of the analysis of heavy metals in the groundwater, outcome of accumulation and biomagnification studies, the remediation plan and cost estimation will be prepared by the joint committee for taking further remedial measures by the Punjab chief secretary. The joint experts committee, included Sangrur deputy commissioner Ramvir, experts from the central pollution control board, Punjab pollution control board and Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change.
The NGT had constituted the expert’s committee in a petition filed by advocate Hari Chand Arora on the basis of a news report highlighting that tubewells in Sangrur village have polluted water and the people are suffering with this problem for the past 10 years. The Punjab pollution control board had been blaming a factory for this which was shut down around 15 years ago.
