A Survey Report on Groundwater Contamination of Doaba Belt of Punjab due to Heavy Metal Arsenic

Hardev Singh Virk

Abstract: Punjab is facing a crisis situation due to high levels of heavy metals in underground water table of Punjab. ICAR has reported arsenic beyond safe limit in 13 districts of Punjab. According to PWSSD report submitted to World Bank in 2018, there are 2989 habitations out of 15060 surveyed in Punjab, which fall under quality affected (QA) category (25 % nearly). In this survey report, groundwater quality data pertaining to Arsenic is reported in the districts of Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala of the Doaba belt of Punjab. The occurrence of high Arsenic in groundwater is of geogenic origin and may be attributed to the river basins in Punjab. Methods for Arsenic removal and its health hazard effects are briefly discussed.

Keywords: Groundwater, Arsenic, Acceptable limit, AMRIT, Health hazards