**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 713 in Lok Sabha regarding heavy metal contamination of groundwater, answered on December 4, 2025. It details the government's assessment and monitoring efforts, and outlines measures being taken to address the issue and provide safe drinking water. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State governments are key stakeholders in these activities. Annexure I and II provide detailed state-wise information of arsenic and lead contamination along with the affected districts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Groundwater Quality Assessment:**
* CGWB generates groundwater quality data on a regional scale.
* Groundwater is largely potable, but isolated pockets of contaminants exist.
* Trace parameter analysis is done for select priority elements and heavy metals based on requirement.
* **Sampling and Analysis (2024 Data):**
* 3,415 samples from 26 States/UTs analyzed for Arsenic.
* 2,537 samples from 21 States/UTs analyzed for Lead.
* 3.6% of Arsenic samples exceeded permissible limits (10 ppb).
* 0.95% of Lead samples exceeded permissible limits (0.01 mg/L).
* State-wise details of affected districts are provided in Annexure-I and Annexure-II.
* **Monitoring and Remedial Measures:**
* CGWB undertakes aquifer mapping and analysis, giving special attention to heavy metals.
* NAQUIM studies incorporate heavy metal assessment and remedial measures, shared with states.
* Central Government complements state efforts in providing safe drinking water.
* **Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM):**
* Aims to provide contamination-free potable tap water to rural households.
* Adopts Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS:10500) for tap water service delivery.
* Allocates 10% of funds to States/UTs based on chemical contaminant affected population.
* "Drinking Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Framework" disseminated in October 2021.
* Around 2180 water quality testing laboratories have been set up in the country.
* States/UTs advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs).
* **Enhancing Monitoring & Technology:**
* Groundwater quality data is regularly disseminated through reports and alerts.
* New Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) adopted for more frequent and denser sampling.
* CGWB developed cement sealing technology for tapping deeper Arsenic-free aquifers.
* **Addressing Pollution:**
* Artificial recharge of contaminated aquifers is promoted.
* Ministry of Jal Shakti and other ministries implement programmes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan.
* Efforts are made to install Sewage Treatment Plants and Effluent Treatment Plants.
* CPCB, with SPCBs/PCCs, implements Water and Environment Protection Acts.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Jal Shakti**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing and implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission and coordinating efforts to address groundwater contamination.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and monitor the JJM, coordinate with state governments, and utilize the provided data for decision-making and resource allocation.
**Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for generating groundwater quality data, conducting aquifer studies, and developing new monitoring procedures and technologies.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor groundwater quality, share data with relevant stakeholders, and implement new SOPs for enhanced monitoring efficiency.
**State Governments/UTs**
* **Impact:** Primarily responsible for mitigating groundwater contamination and providing safe drinking water to citizens. They are provided support from the central government through schemes like JJM
* **Action Required:** Use the data provided in the annexures to identify affected districts and implement remedial measures, ensure water quality testing is conducted regularly, and install CWPPs in quality-affected habitations.
**Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing provisions of the Water and Environment Protection Acts to prevent and control water pollution.
* **Action Required:** Continue to develop and enforce industry-specific and general standards for effluent discharge, and work in association with SPCBs/PCCs to implement these measures.
**District Administrations**
* **Impact**: Responsible for local implementation of water safety norms.
* **Action Required**: Implement findings from NAQUIM studies.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): Responsible for ground water quality data generation and monitoring, heavy metal assessment, implementing SOPs for groundwater quality monitoring and also developed an innovative cement sealing technology for tapping deeper Arsenic free aquifers in the Arsenic affected areas.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Flagship program aiming to provide potable tap water to every rural household, with water safety as a key priority and funding allocated based on chemical contaminants.
National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM): Program for aquifer mapping and groundwater analysis, especially concerning contamination by heavy metals.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: Central ministry responsible for the Jal Jeevan Mission and addressing groundwater contamination.
Water (Prevention & Control) Act, 1974: Act that aims to prevent and control water pollution, implemented by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 713
ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025
HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER
713. Dr. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has identified districts and States where groundwater shows high levels of
heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, chromium, mercury and cadmium beyond permissible limits;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the extent of contamination as per the latest assessment by the
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB);
(c) whether the Government has undertaken periodic monitoring of heavy metal contamination through the
National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the remedial measures taken/being taken by the Government including provision of safe drinking
water, remediation of contaminated aquifers and stricter regulation of industrial effluents?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data of the country on a
regional scale as part of its ground water quality monitoring program and various scientific studies
conducted as per the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Overall, the data on ground water
quality indicates that the ground water in the country remains largely potable with localized occurrences of
contaminants in isolated pockets. Further, though sampling and analysis of all basic parameters like
Electrical Conductivity (EC), Fluoride, Nitrate etc. are done regularly, trace parameter analysis is done for
only select priority elements and heavy metals like Chromium, Mercury, Cadmium etc. are analyzed based
on requirement only.
As per Annual Ground water Quality Report, 2025 of CGWB, during Pre-Monsoon and Post-
Monsoon 2024, CGWB collected and analyzed 3,415 groundwater samples from 26 States/UTs for Arsenic
and 2,537 samples from 21 States/UTs for Lead. The analysis revealed that 123 samples (3.6%), out of
3,415, exceeded the permissible limit of 10 ppb for Arsenic, while 24 samples (0.95%), out of 2,537,
exceeded the permissible limit of 0.01 mg/L for Lead. State-wise details of Arsenic and Lead
contamination along with the affected districts are provided in Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.
1(c) As part of the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM), CGWB
undertakes comprehensive aquifer mapping and conducts analysis of groundwater levels and quality of the
study area. Further, while taking up such aquifer studies, special attention is being given to the aspect of
ground water quality including contamination by toxic substances such as heavy metals.
Outcome of such quality analysis including heavy metal assessment is being incorporated in the
NAQUIM studies report along with suitable remedial measures. The findings of NAQUIM studies have
been shared with respective State line departments and district administrations.
(d) Water is a State subject and the responsibility of taking initiatives to mitigate ground water
contamination and to provide safe drinking water to citizens lies primarily with the state governments.
However, to complement the efforts of the state governments, several steps have been taken by the Central
Government to address these issues. Some of the important ones for provision of safe drinking water,
identification, reporting and remediation of aquifer contamination and regulation of industrial effluents are
mentioned below:-
i. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, being implemented by this Ministry in partnership with
states, marks an important milestone for providing contamination free potable tap water to every
rural household of the country in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-
term basis. Following measures have been taken under JJM to facilitate action on water quality
aspects at state level :-
Water safety has been one of the key priorities under the JJM since its inception. Under
the JJM, Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards have been adopted as
prescribed norms for quality of tap water service delivery.
While allocating the funds to States/UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population
residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.
The “Drinking Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Framework” was devised and
disseminated to states in October 2021.
To facilitate implementation of the above said Framework, around 2180 water quality
testing laboratories have been set up in the country. Besides this, five persons, preferably
women are identified and trained from every village for testing the water samples through
Field Test Kits (FTKs). States/UTs have been advised to carry out testing of water quality
on a regular basis and take remedial action wherever necessary to ensure that the water
supplied to households is of prescribed quality.
States/UTs have also been advised to install community water purification plants
(CWPPs) as an interim measure especially in quality affected habitations to provide
potable drinking water to every household.
2ii. The ground water quality data generated by CGWB including that for heavy metal contamination,
is regularly disseminated through Annual Reports, Half-yearly Bulletins and Fortnightly Alerts
for quick action by the stakeholders.
iii. In order to enhance monitoring efficiency, a new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for
Groundwater Quality Monitoring has been adopted by CGWB, which stipulates more frequent
and denser sampling, particularly in vulnerable areas to ensure a more comprehensive assessment
of groundwater quality.
iv. CGWB has also developed an innovative cement sealing technology for tapping deeper Arsenic
free aquifers in the Arsenic affected areas and has so far successfully constructed 525 Arsenic
safe exploratory wells, including 40 wells in Bihar, 191 in West Bengal and 294 in Uttar Pradesh.
CGWB is also providing technical assistance to state departments for taking up similar
constructions.
v. Improvement in ground water quality can also be achieved to some extent by taking up artificial
recharge of contaminated aquifers, which dilutes the contaminants to reduce their adverse effects.
Accordingly, Ministry of Jal Shakti and other central ministries are implementing several
programmes towards this end like the annual Jal Shakti Abhiyan campaign, Jal Sanchay Jan
Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative, Atal Bhujal Yojana, PMKSY and MGNREGS schemes etc.
vi. The ground water pollution also owes its origin to contamination of surface water sources for
which various efforts have been made in the country like installing Sewage Treatment Plants,
Effluent Treatment Plants and better system of sewage networks etc. Under National Mission for
Clean Ganga (NMCG) and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), the government has
initiated several steps for improving the water quality along major river stretches of the country.
vii. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control
Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) is implementing the provisions of the Water
(Prevention & Control) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to prevent and
control pollution in water. CPCB has made a comprehensive programme on water pollution for
controlling point sources by developing industry specific standards and general standards for
discharge of effluents notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for enforcement by
SPCBs/PCCs.
***
3ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION
NO. 713 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.12.2025 REGARDING “HEAVY METAL
CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER”.
State-wise details of Arsenic (As) sample analysis : Based Annual Ground Water
Quality Report, 2025
No. of Districts Names of Districts
Total No. of % of
wherein Arsenic wherein Arsenic
No. of Samples Samples
S.No. State/UT has been reported has been reported
Samples having Having
in isolated pockets in isolated pockets
Analyzed As > 10 ppb As > 10ppb
(As > 10ppb) (As > 10 ppb)
1 A&N Islands 28 0 0.00 0
Arunachal
2 15 0 0.00 0
Pradesh
Golaghat, Kamrup,
3 Assam 154 4 2.60 4
Lakhimpur, Nalbari
Bhojpur, Buxar,
4 Bihar 13 6 46.15 4
Madhubani, Sheohar
5 Chandigarh 8 0 0.00 0
6 Chhattisgarh 257 0 0.00 0
7 Delhi 86 0 0.00 0
8 Goa 6 0 0.00 0
9 Gujarat 114 0 0.00 0
10 Haryana 160 2 1.25 1 Sonipat
Jammu &
11 17 2 11.76 1 Jammu
Kashmir
12 Karnataka 118 2 1.69 2 Gadag, Raichur
13 Kerala 185 0 0.00 0
Madhya
14 49 0 0.00 0
Pradesh
15 Manipur 3 0 0.00 0
16 Meghalaya 38 0 0.00 0
17 Nagaland 66 0 0.00 0
Bhadark, Ganjam,
18 Odisha 413 6 1.45 4
Sambalpur, Sundargarh
Amritsar, Ferozpur,
19 Punjab 296 27 9.12 6 Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur,
Patiala, Tarn Taran
20 Rajasthan 100 0 0.00 0
Cuddalore, Nagapattinam,
Ramanathapuram,
21 Tamil Nadu 286 5 1.75 5
Thoothukkudi,
Tiruvannamalai
22 Tripura 44 0 0.00 0
UT of
23 7 0 0.00 0
Puducherry
4Bahraich , Balrampur,
Ballia, Barabanki,
Bareilly, Bijnor,
Uttar Farrukhabad, Fatehpur,
24 612 23 3.76 14
Pradesh Lakhimpur Kheri ,
Moradabad, Pilibhit ,
Rampur, Sambhal,
Shahjahanpur
25 Uttarakhand 104 0 0.00 0
Coochbehar, Malda,
West Murshidabad, Nadia,
26 236 46 19.49 6
Bengal North 24 Parganas,
South 24 Parganas
Total 3415 123 3.60 47
5ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 713
TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.12.2025 REGARDING “HEAVY METAL
CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER”.
State-wise details of Lead (Pb) sample analysis: Based Annual Ground Water Quality Report, 2025
Names of Districts
No. of % of
Total No. of Districts Wherein Lead has
Samples Samples
No. of Wherein Lead has been been
S.No. State/UT (Pb > (Pb >
Samples reported in isolated reported in isolated
0.01 0.01
Analyzed pockets (Pb > 0.01mg/L) pockets (Pb > 0.01
mg/L) mg/L)
mg/L)
Arunachal
1 Pradesh 15 0 0.00 0
Cachar, Dibrugarh,
2 Assam 155 5 3.23 4 Kamrup, Udalguri
3 Bihar 12 0 0.00 0
4 Chandigarh 8 0 0.00 0
North, North West,
5 Delhi 86 8 9.30 4 South West, West
6 Goa 6 0 0.00 0
7 Haryana 160 0 0.00 0
Jammu &
8 Kashmir 12 0 0.00 0
9 Karnataka 118 1 0.85 1 Raichur
Madhya
10 Pradesh 28 0 0.00 0
11 Manipur 3 0 0.00 0
12 Meghalaya 38 0 0.00 0
13 Nagaland 67 0 0.00 0
14 Odisha 413 3 0.73 2 Nuapada, Sambalpur
15 Punjab 296 1 0.34 1 Hoshiarpur
16 Rajasthan 98 2 2.04 2 Barmer, Bhilwara
17 Tamil Nadu 286 2 0.70 2 Tiruppur, Viluppuram
18 Tripura 44 0 0.00 0
UT of
19 Puducherry 7 0 0.00 0
Uttar
Budaun, Chandauli
20 Pradesh 581 2 0.34 2
21 Uttarakhand 104 0 0.00 0
Total 2537 24 0.95 18
*****
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