scorecardresearch
Friday, March 29, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeIndiaFluoride, arsenic concentration found in 73 Jharkhand hamlets

Fluoride, arsenic concentration found in 73 Jharkhand hamlets

Follow Us :
Text Size:

Ranchi, Apr 22 (PTI) The Jharkhand government has identified 73 hamlets affected by fluoride and arsenic concentration in groundwater, which causes several health complications, officials said.

According to the Central Ground Water Board website, fluoride concentration was found above 1.5mg/l in parts of Bokaro, Dhanbad, Garhwa, Giridih, Godda, Gumla, Koderma, Pakur, Palamu, Ranchi, Sahibganj, and Khunti districts and arsenic concentration was found above 0.01mg/l in parts of Sahibganj and Lohardaga.

Drinking Water and Sanitation Department (DWSD) secretary Prashant Kumar said, “We have identified 73 tolas in several districts, including Garhwa and Palamu, which are affected by fluoride and arsenic concentration.

“As an interim arrangement, we are providing them drinking water through community water purification plants (CWPP). As a long-term plan, we are identifying surface water sources to provide tap water facilities through the pipeline under the Jal Jivan Mission.” The concentration of fluoride above the permissible limit in drinking water can lead to bone, gum, and teeth damage, whereas excessive arsenic can cause roughness in the skin and it could also lead to a thickness of palm and sole skin, said Dr. SK Mandal, senior dermatologist at Sahid Nimal Mahto Medical College and Hospital, Dhanbad.

Jharkhand has more than 1.20 lakh hamlets and there are three to four tube wells in each hamlet for drinking water purposes.

The department has also emphasised the need for increasing the number of water laboratories to increase the number of water quality testing.

All 29 water testing laboratories in the state have been strengthened, officials said.

In 2021-22, as many as 1.67 lakh water samples collected from 19,727 villages have been tested. More than 10,000 water samples have been tested by the Jal Sahiyas at the village level covering 465 villages.

“Under capacity building and public awareness campaign, five women from each village are being given water quality testing training. Till now, women from 1,500 villages have been imparted training,” the secretary said.

Meanwhile, the state has applied for NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accreditation for its 10 district-level water quality testing laboratories at Chaibasa, Latehar, Jhumri Teliya, Deoghar, Garhwa, Pakur, Ramgarh, Khunti, Simdega, and Saraikela-Kharswan. PTI SAN MM MM

This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

  • Tags

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular