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Gujarat: Narmada water has 50 times higher Total Dissolved Solids

Against acceptable limits of 500 mg/I, all 8 areas downstream had TDS above permissible limits

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Test was carried out at 8 places covering 60km of the area
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An analysis of the quality of Narmada water 60 km downstream has shown extremely high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), way above the permissible limits. It also revealed that the river downstream fails to meet the parameters set for river water quality.

The test was carried out from eight different places covering 60 km of the area downstream where the Narmada river flows eventually meeting the sea.

The water samples tested from Bharuch, Kukarwada village, and Bhadbhut village had TDS levels of 19,928 mg/I, 21,506 mg/I and 25,564 mg/I respectively. This was 20 to 25 times above the permissible limit. The norms for river water states that the acceptable levels of TDS for such water is 500 mg/I. It should be noted that while these three places recorded an extremely high level of TDS, the others also had TDS above the acceptable limits.

It also found that four of the places including Bharuch had a dissolved oxygen level less than the accepted 5mg/I while three others showed that it was good. Dissolved oxygen was not tested for a sample taken from the groundwater in Nikora village which is just 100 meters from the river.

Rohit Prajapati, of Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti said that the samples were a clear indication that the river was dying downstream.

Since the Sardar Sarovar dam was made the government has only been releasing 600c uses of water downstream. "This is not enough to maintain the ecological flow of the water. It barely covers what is needed. This has led to sea water ingress in several places and in Bharuch it is no more Narmada water but just sea water," said Prajapati.

He said that earlier good flow of Narmada water downstream prevented the sea water from seeping in. "But now that the water flow has been reduced it is no more possible to prevent the sea water from entering," sad Prajapati.

He added that Narmada unlike the Sabarmati is a perennial river and in the mid 90s boasted of excellent quality of water.

Nikora village which is just 100 metre from the river downstream also had a TDS of 1610 mg/I. "You can imagine if a village this close to the river has such high level of TDS what will be situation in areas that are far from the river," said Prajapati.

He said even industries in Dahej that rely on Narmada water treat the water before using it due to high TDS content.

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