Reports that water in certain localities of Meghalaya’s capital city have been found to be unsafe for drinking purposes is worrying. But what’s worse is that the Minister in charge of the Public Health Engineering Department – Marcuise Marak instead of treating the matter with some concern, decided to deny the findings. Now the National Green Tribunal has found that water in Meghalaya and 23 other states and Union Territories contain arsenic and fluoride. Scientific literature informs that arsenic poisoning, or arsenicosis, occurs when humans ingest or inhale high levels of arsenic. Arsenic is a type of carcinogen that’s grey, silver, or white in colour. It is extremely poisonous to humans. What makes arsenic especially dangerous is that it doesn’t have a taste or odour, so humans can be exposed to it without knowing it. While arsenic is naturally occurring, it also comes in inorganic (or “man-made”) formulas. These are chemicals used in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
Arsenic poisoning usually occurs in industrial areas and affects people who live and work in such areas. In Meghalaya it is seen that garages and car servicing centres are allowed to operate anywhere and everywhere. In fact vehicles are allowed to be washed in the middle of rivers. The river Umiew in Smit for instance is extensively used by vehicles owners to wash their vehicles. The same river water is also used for public distribution after it reaches a certain destination. Obviously the different chemicals from the vehicles leach into the water and remain there unless they are specifically treated.
The fact that there are no designated manufacturing sites in Meghalaya and that the industrial areas are also hugely polluting and with no visible measures taken to address this issue is a matter of grave concern. However, what is also a matter that deserves critical attention is that the rivers in Meghalaya, some of which are sources of water supply are now polluted through human intervention. The release of septic tanks directly into rivers is a matter that needs immediate attention and adequate laws to tackle them. Unless the National Green Tribunal (NGT) comes down heavily on such polluters our river systems will continue to degenerate and rivers will turn to sewers. It is good that the NGT has come down heavily on pollution of water sources since both arsenic and fluoride have serious health consequences. It is a different matter that citizens in Meghalaya are hardly agitated about the state of the rivers and the water that enters every home. Those that can afford high grade water filters might think they are safe but there is no knowing if such water is completely safe for drinking. And what about the large majority that cannot afford to purify their water? Governments are elected to care for public health but it is also the citizen’s right to demand safe and clean drinking water.
