Phagwara, Punjab (October 30, 2012): According to media reports Arsenic, a toxin, has been detected in water released from hand pumps in the Basant Nagar area of Phagwara. Besides, underground water here is coloured, has a distinctive odour and turbidity and is hard. The iron content is also far beyond permissible limits. The State Public Health Laboratory, Chandigarh confirmed the presence of arsenic in water.
According to information former minister Joginder Singh Mann had raised the issue of contaminated water with the local authorities. The Phagwara SDM had constituted a committee comprising various departments. Samples were taken and water in one of the hand pumps was even found to be containing Fluoride besides other pollutants.
According to Times of India (TOI) “Water contamination is being attributed to faulty waste disposal by a local factory. However, the committee has not been able to ascertain the factory’s mode of waste disposal yet. In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, the SDM mentioned the presence of pollutants in water and recommended an investigation by the Punjab Pollution Control Board”.