Nitrates poison water

Taking a dip in the Ganga at Varanasi is a done thing for many devout Hindus. Of late however this pilgrimage centre has begun facing numerous water problems, including shortages and contamination. Most alarming is the presence of nitrate and heavy metals such as zinc in the water.

A view of the ghats by the river Ganga

Though located on the bank of river Ganga the holy city of Varanasi is facing an acute drinking water crisis. The city is as much dependent on city's Jal Sansthan supplies as well as underground water.

Around five lakh people are facing acute water crisis in the city. Garwhasi Tola located on the edge of the Ganga is not getting a single drop of water. One has to drill 250 feet to get underground water through hand pumps or submersible pumps.

The water problems assume serious proportions in view of increasing temperature and grim power scenario this summer.

The demand per day of the potable water is 280 million litres per day (mld). But Varanasi Jal Sansthan supplies 270 mld water each day. Blaming the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam for the water crisis the Varanasi Jal Sansthan officials said that out of 1,900 hand pumps more than 300 are yet to be handed over to the Jal Sansthan.

Seventy five per cent of these hand pumps are either out of order or supply contaminated water.

Another view of the famous ghats of Varanasi

The officials said erratic power supply coupled with defective distribution network worsens water supply. A majority of the water being supplied is by a pipeline laid down during the British period in 1892. Due to lack of coordination between the Jal Nigam and Jal Sansthan the plan to lay down a new pipeline was shelved.

A former corporatation member Ramesh Chopra said launching of the water schemes without any strategic planning had added to the water crisis in the city.

The Jal Sansthan supplies merely 35-40 litres water per head daily.

A hydrological investigation done by a team of geologists from the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) revealed that well water in Varanasi has heavy metals like zinc higher than the permissible limit of 1.55 ppb (particle per billion).

Varanasi does not have the problem of excess fluoride content but nitrate in the water of most of the wells in the city is increasing due to dumping of garbage, barnyards, animal yards and even pigeon excreta rich in nitrate.

There are a large number of factories, registered and unregistered, working inside the city which release toxic metals straight into the drains. "This has resulted in adverse impact on the health of people. If proper care is not taken harmful effects would be visible within a couple of years," said Dr GC Chowdhary of the BHU's geology department.

"Moreover, as the groundwater level is going down gradually, the effect of toxic elements would also increase," he added.

HT Bureau