131 villages hit by arsenic ground water (India)

State public health engineering department minister Goutam Dev said on Monday that in West Bengal arsenic contamination in ground water was a problem in 131 villages in 65 blocks of eight districts. The distrcits are Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, North and South 24 parganas, Burdwan, Howrah and Hooghly.

Meanwhile , according to The PHE minister , having battled with the growing arsenic contaminations , the state has started interactions with experts of USA, UK, Germany , China, and Sweden. "Experts of international repute are helping the state to obtain proper technology for combating arsenic contamintion." he said.

According to him , nine municipalities and 15 non-municipal areas having a total population of one million have been identified as arsenic affected .

Dev said at a Press coference that a perspective plan of Rs 650 crore based on the identification of arsenic contaminated areas was submitted to the Centre in 1996 . In this, a surface water scheme for South 24 parganas had been snctioned.

Dev informed that in compliance with the Centre's suggestion the state has prepared three water supply schemes based on surface water in the districts of Malda , south and north 24 parganas and submitted to the Centre for clearance. "The Rs 272 crore scheme for the north 24 parganas is yet to be sanctioned." Dev deplored.

He also informed that a composite scheme with surface and ground water for Murshidabad and Nadia was prepared and submitted to the Centre at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore. " the sanction is wating ' he added.

Dev said an international workshop on control of arsenic contamination of ground water was scheduled to be held on January 5 and 6 in Calcutta."

Source: The Times of India News Service