**Executive Summary**
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors groundwater quality nationwide and recommends remedial measures for contamination. In 2024, CGWB conducted groundwater quality hotspot monitoring. The Jal Jeevan Mission is an ongoing effort to provide safe drinking water to rural households since 2019.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation:**
* CGWB generates groundwater quality data based on its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
* In 2024, CGWB monitored groundwater quality hotspots to assess contaminant distribution.
* CGWB recommends remedial measures for groundwater contamination and disseminates information through reports, advisories, training, and public interaction.
* CGWB has developed techniques for constructing Arsenic and Fluoride safe wells and shared them with state governments.
* **Jal Jeevan Mission:**
* Implemented since 2019 to provide safe drinking water to every rural household.
* Prioritizes providing potable water to quality-affected habitations.
* States/UTs are advised to implement piped water supply schemes based on safe water sources.
* **Reduction in Contamination:**
* Significant reduction in Arsenic & Fluoride affected habitations due to government and stakeholder efforts.
* The number of Arsenic affected habitations declined from 14,020 (August 2019) to 314 (January 2026).
* The number of Fluoride affected habitations declined from 7,996 (August 2019) to 245 (January 2026).
* Remaining habitations are being provided clean & safe drinking water through Community Water Purifier Plants (CWPPs).
* **Nitrate Contamination:**
* Nitrate contamination originates from nitrogen sources near the land surface.
* Elevated nitrate levels often result from leaching of fertilizers and animal wastes.
* CGWB recommends enhanced groundwater recharge to mitigate nitrate contamination.
* Government promotes balanced fertilizer use via Soil Health Cards (SHCs) and organic farming through schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
**Impact Analysis**
**State/District Administrations**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing CGWB's remedial measures and Jal Jeevan Mission at the local level.
* **Action Required:** Utilize CGWB advisories, construct safe wells, and plan/implement piped water supply schemes.
**Citizens/Rural Households**
* **Impact:** Directly benefit from improved groundwater quality and access to safe drinking water.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the government initiatives and utilise safe drinking water facilities.
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Potentially impacted by recommendations for balanced fertilizer use and the promotion of organic farming.
* **Action Required:** Adopt balanced and judicious fertilizer practices based on Soil Health Card recommendations and consider organic farming.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): Generates groundwater quality data and recommends remedial measures for groundwater contamination.
Jal Jeevan Mission: A scheme to provide safe drinking water to every rural household in the country.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The government ministry responsible for addressing water-related issues, including groundwater contamination.
Soil Health Card: The basis for the concept of balanced and judicious use of fertilizers for improving soil health.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS FOR
GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
Posted On: 02 FEB 2026 4:26PM by PIB Delhi
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data on a regional scale throughout
the country as part of its ground water quality monitoring program and various scientific studies as per its
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
During 2024, Groundwater quality hotspot monitoring was undertaken by the CGWB to assess
contaminant distribution and spatial spread. The objective of this exercise was to delineate localized
contamination zones and understand the extent of contaminant migration within the surrounding areas.
CGWB has recommended various remedial measures for ground water contamination caused by different
types of contaminants which are publicized through Annual Ground Water Quality Reports, NAQUIM
study reports, advisories to state/district administrations and through its training and public interaction
programmes. CGWB has also developed the techniques for constructing Arsenic and Fluoride safe wells
which have been shared with state governments for replication and upscaling.
Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented by the Government of India in partnership with States since
2019 to provide safe drinking water to every rural household of the country. The scheme covers the entire
country and not just quality affected areas. However, providing potable drinking water to quality-affected
habitations is one of the priorities under Jal Jeevan Mission. States/UTs have been advised to plan and
implement piped water supply schemes of bulk water transfer based on safe water sources such as surface
water sources or alternative safe ground water sources for the villages with water quality issues.
As a result of cumulative efforts of the government and other stakeholders in addressing water
contamination issue, there has been a significant reduction in number of habitations affected by the two
major contaminants viz. Arsenic & Fluoride. As reported by the states, from August 2019 to January 2026,
the number of Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations in the country have declined from 14,020 to 314
and from 7,996 to 245 respectively. These remaining habitations have also been provided clean & safe
drinking water through Community Water Purifier Plants (CWPPs).
The occurrence of nitrate in groundwater typically originates from nitrogen sources at or near the land
surface where nitrogen-rich wastes are deposited. In many cases, elevated nitrate concentrations result
from the leaching of fertilizers, animal wastes, or other nitrogenous residues applied to agricultural fields.
Accordingly, CGWB has recommended that enhanced groundwater recharge can play an important role in
mitigating nitrate contamination through dilution effect, alongside measures to reduce nitrate discharge in
the upper soil layers. Additionally, the Government of India is advocating the concept of balanced and
judicious use of fertilizers on Soil Health Card based recommendation. Under National Project on Soil
Health & Fertility Scheme, the Soil Health Cards (SHCs) are used to improve soil health and to ensure
judicious use of fertilizers. Government has also been promoting organic farming in the country throughParamparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs (other-than North Eastern States) and
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) exclusively for
North Eastern region.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ
BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
***
ND
(Rajya Sabha USQ 251)
(Release ID: 2222158) Visitor Counter : 155
Read this release in: ही