Punjab: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed a thorough analysis of groundwater samples in Punjab to ascertain whether elements other than uranium pose a health hazard. The direction comes amid concerns over uranium contamination in Doaba and Majha regions, with the Court on the last date of hearing stressing that testing should follow the updated WHO standards. “Counsel for the State of Punjab is directed to analyse the groundwater samples collected to ascertain whether elements other than uranium found in the water are harmful for drinking purposes,” a division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sudhir Singh said. The Court also directed the Union of India to evaluate the report and suggest solutions to the “problem being faced by the citizens of Punjab in respect of traces of uranium found in groundwater in various districts of Punjab”. The high court had on the last date of hearing ordered a comprehensive retest of water samples for uranium contamination in Punjab’s Doaba and Majha regions as there were discrepancies in the previous testing standards. The court had made it clear that the water should be tested again as per the updated WHO standards. Hearing a petition filed by Brijendra Singh Loomba in 2010 against the Union of India and other respondents, the bench had taken note of the affidavit filed by the chief engineer of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, which said that out of 4,406 samples tested in districts like Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Tarn Taran in Doaba and Majha regions, 11 samples were found “contaminated”. These tests were based on the standards of “60 parts per billion (ppb)” recognised by the atomic energy regulatory body. Another report of Punjab’s local government department said that out of 269 samples tested in Doaba and Majha regions, three samples were found “contaminated with traces of uranium”.
The standard applied for testing was 30 µg/l. Taking note of the two reports, the bench stressed that the WHO has apparently re-fixed the standards for testing uranium content in water at 30 µg/l, while earlier 60 µg/l-standard was used for testing 4,406 samples. “The tests should be re-conducted on the basis of the current standards recommended by WHO i.e. 30 µg/l. The State of Punjab should re-start the fresh exercise of collecting and testing samples in Doaba and Majha regions,” the bench ordered. Taking the government to task for not taking concrete steps to ensure supply of uranium-free water in the Malwa region, even after 9 years had passed since the matter was brought under judicial scrutiny, the High Court in December 2019 had not only directed the formation of a committee of principal secretaries but also directed for making arrangements for clean drinking water. Directions were also issued to the Union of India and the Punjab government to explore the possibility of neutralising uranium.
