By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 26: The tall claims of the NPP-led MDA 2.0 Government of supplying potable water to its citizens were resoundingly busted by the National green Tribunal (NGT), which issued a notice to the state government highlighting the presence of arsenic and fluoride.
According to experts, contaminated water used for drinking, food preparation and irrigation of food crops poses the greatest threat to public health from arsenic. Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking water and food can cause cancer and skin lesions. Excess amounts of fluoride ions in drinking water can cause dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, arthritis, bone damage, osteoporosis, muscular damage, fatigue, joint-related problems, and chronicle issues.
It is to be noted that the FKJGP had collected water samples from 46 localities of Shillong, as per the ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ laid down by the State Food Testing Laboratory of the Commissionerate of Food Safety on August 22.
All samples were brought to the State Food Testing Laboratory, Commissionerate of Food Safety located at Pasteur Hills, Shillong for quality testing and complete analysis.
The report revealed that out of the 46 samples, 44 showed the presence of coliform and E. coli (Escherichia coli) organisms with low pH value, high turbidity and iron content above the prescribed limit.
Some localities where the water was found to be unsafe include Oakland, Jail Road, Wahingdoh, Jaiaw Langsning, Lumdiengjri, Mawbah, Jhalupara, Dhankheti, Cleve Colony, Lumshyiap, Nongmensong, and Laitumkhrah. The two localities where it was found to be safe are Mawblei and Demthring.
However, PHE Minister Marcuise Marak had downplayed any concerns over Shillong city’s supply of contaminated water while giving his department a clean chit.
Marak had claimed that the department examines the water at the Mawphlang treatment plant before supplying it, and it even has its own laboratory.
The notice from the NGT, however, exposes the hollow remarks of the PHE Minister.
Apart from Meghalaya, the NGT has issued notices to 23 other states and four Union Territories.
The green panel observed that the presence of these metals or chemicals are “very serious” and requires “urgent preventive and protective steps”.
The panel was hearing a matter in which it had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that highlighted the presence of arsenic and fluoride beyond permissible limits in groundwater in some pockets of various states and UTs.
The report stated that arsenic was detected in groundwater in parts of 230 districts across 25 states while fluoride was found in some pockets of 469 districts in 27 states, the tribunal noted in a recent order.
A bench of Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A Senthil Vel said the Central Ground Water Authority had submitted a report in which it admitted the presence of arsenic and fluoride in the districts and the states.
“It is also admitted that both the chemicals or metals have very serious toxic effects on the human body and health and cause health hazards,” the bench said.
It said the Central Ground Water Authority, responsible for regulating groundwater, did not take any independent steps on the grounds that water is a state subject.
But its contention had been rejected by a 1997 Supreme Court verdict and a 2022 tribunal order, the bench said.
“We are surprised that after such a long time, even today, the CGWA has the audacity of shirking away from its own statutory responsibility and obligations and taking such flimsy grounds which have already been rejected by the apex court itself,” it said.
“The issue raised in the present matter with regard to the presence of arsenic and fluoride in groundwater in such a large number of states and districts is very serious and requires urgent preventive and protective steps by all authorities concerned,” the tribunal added.
The tribunal made parties or respondents in the matter 28 states and UTs along with the Central Ground Water Authority and the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. “Let notices be issued to all the above respondents,” the bench said, seeking their response within a month.
The matter has been listed for further proceedings on February 15. (With inputs from PTI)