The Hindu : New parameters for checking groundwater quality

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

New parameters for checking groundwater quality

By Anjali Malhotra

NEW DELHI, FEB. 24. In the wake of the `pesticide controversy', the Central Pollution Control Board has also amended its criteria for assessment of groundwater quality and has specified pesticides that must be monitored by the various State chapters.

"The criterion for assessing pesticides did exist but in a very general way. It was monitored only in areas that had some sort of history. But now the specified pesticides have to be measured. We want to make sure that ground water quality is good all over. The amendment has been brought about with the aim that all the toxic in water is monitored,'' said member secretary, CPCB, B. Sengupta. Sources, however, reveal that the pesticides controversy is the main motivation for this amendment.

Among the pesticides that have been specified in the list are DDT, Total BHC, Endosulphan, Lindane, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Carbamat, 2,4 D, Malathion, Anilopyriphos, Chloropyriphos and Parathion. Interestingly, along with the addition of pesticides, certain toxic (heavy) metals have also been added to the list. The list now includes assessment of Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, Copper, Nickel, Iron and Zinc.

"For the moment, all 784 monitoring units under CPCB that includes even surface monitoring units will have to include these parameters in their assessment. Once one round of monitoring is over, we will understand which are the places that we need to watch out for and in those places, we will ensure that there is regular monitoring. Besides noting the level, in case a certain parameter shows up in the assessment, they also have to analyse why it is there. This is a more complete list,'' said additional director, CPCB, R.C. Trivedi. Though additions were done about a month ago, it is only now that all the monitoring units can follow the new criterion. "The detection of these parameters requires a lot of facilities and equipment. And many of the states bodies do not have the requisite equipment. We are trying to help them in some ways and in some cases even asked the states to just collect the samples and send them to us for assessment. Hopefully, now the states bodies are in a better position to analyse these parameters,'' said a CPCB official.

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