What is Fluoride?
- Fluoride is a naturally occurring element found in groundwater.
- The national drinking water limit for fluoride is 1.50 mg/L.
- Excessive fluoride consumption can cause skeletal fluorosis, accelerate dental decay, and pose serious health risks, particularly for children.
States with High Fluoride Contamination
- Rajasthan has the highest fluoride contamination in India.
- Other affected states include Telangana, western Andhra Pradesh, and eastern Karnataka.
- Fluoride levels spike during the dry, summer pre-monsoon months, with arid regions in western India showing higher contamination than humid areas.
- Other Groundwater Contaminants in India: Apart from fluoride, India's groundwater is also contaminated with several other harmful elements:
- Arsenic Contamination: Found in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, covering 90% of arsenic contamination cases in India.
- Uranium Contamination: Found in 12 states, including Punjab.
- Iron Contamination: Severe in states like Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Assam.
- Other contaminants, such as antimony, cadmium, copper, and barium, also pose risks, leading to toxicity, hypertension, and liver and kidney damage.
Legislative and Policy Measures to Address Contamination
- Several laws and initiatives have been introduced to control water contamination:
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- Environment Protection Act, 1986
- The Water Cess Act, 1977
- Additionally, various government schemes focus on groundwater recharge and conservation:
- Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Watershed Development
- Atal Bhujal Yojana (focused on sustainable groundwater management)
Role of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)
- CGWA was established under Section 3(3) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to regulate groundwater resources.
- Major Functions of CGWA:
- Regulating and managing groundwater resources to prevent over-extraction.
- Issuing necessary regulatory directions for conservation and usage.
- Exercising powers under Section 4 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to appoint officers for enforcement.
