UP’s agricultural dept directed to study impact of arsenic on food chain by NGT

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday, August 5, directed the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government’s agricultural department to conduct a study to determine the effect of arsenic on the food chain. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by UP resident Sunita Pandey and others seeking instructions for dealing with the issue of the contamination of soil water because of arsenic and the availability of safe drinking water in Uttar Pradesh and other similar affected districts.

The Green Panel pointed out that 310 hamlets, located in 179 Ballia revenue villages, and 165 hamlets, located at 49 revenue villages Lakhimpur Kheri, have been identified by the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, where shallow ground water is found to contain arsenic in excess of permissible limit of 0.05 micrograms per litre prescribed for potable water by Bureau of Indian Standards.

 A bench led by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Chairperson, NGT, asked the department to prepare an impact assessment plan within six months, along with mitigation strategies such as change in crop patterns, changes in agricultural practices, etc. The direction came after an Oversight Committee led by Justice Surendra Vikram Singh Rathore, former High Court judge, issued recommendations. The tribunal accepted the recommendations and said appropriate actions may be taken by the concerned departments of UP state government which may be further monitored by the Oversight Committee.

The Committee recommended that work has not been done to remove the handpumps from arsenic contaminated habitats and should be completed within the next 3 months and responsibility for negligence be fixed by the Chief Secretary. In the next three months, the Health Department may undertake a health survey in the areas affected and submit a micro plan indicating the health hazards and mitigation strategy to NGT in six months, it said. The Committee further recommended that the Panchayati Raj Development may develop a plan to ensure participation of Panchayats in the operation and maintenance of these projects.

Water harvesting schemes can be vigorously pursued in these villages for the collection and storage of rain water. In these villages, the State Government may make additional budgetary provisions/extra allocations in MGNREGA for water harvesting schemes.   

The matter is posted for next hearing on February 1 next year.