NGT tells UP government to provide potable water in Sambhal

New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to provide potable water in Sambhal district, as the groundwater in the area is reported to be highly contaminated.

The Tribunal, following a petition from advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, observed that the ground water in Sambhal district was highly contaminated and the handpumps there were extracting water with arsenic content beyond the safe limit.

The bench headed by NGT acting Chairperson U.D. Salvi also ordered the state government to seal all the handpumps extracting contaminated water and file a comprehensive plan to ensure proper supply of potable water.

State water body Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam also informed the green court that 77 handpumps were extracting arsenic above the prescribed limit.

Advocate Bansal stated in his plea that he had conducted a survey in more than 20 villages and found that the children of the said villages were drinking contaminated water.

The petitioner has also annexed the report of the Uttar Pradesh government only, which is citing heavy metals like manganese, iron and others in the groundwater of these villages.

"It’s because of pathetic response … of the Utar Pradesh government that people and particularly innocent children are forced to drink highly contaminated groundwater. This is nothing but a crime. The Constitution directs the government to provide potable water to its people," Bansal told IANS.

The matter will be taken up for hearing on March 3 again.