UP admits chemical contamination of water in 65 districts

The Uttar Pradesh government admitted on Tuesday that chemical contamination in water had been found in 64 of the 75 districts in the state.

The government, however, denied that people were falling ill due to this contamination of water.

UP minister for rural development, Arvind Singh Gope, told the state assembly during question hour that there were no reports of people suffering from any illness due to chemical contamination in water. He said that this was for the health department to find out and take action in the matter.

 Independent legislator Ruby Prasad said that in Sonebhadra district alone, 84 per cent lead contamination had been found in the underground water which was hazardous for health.

Peace Party legislator Akhilesh Singh said that in Mota Ka Purwa village in Rae Bareli district, nearly 50 per cent of the population had developed physical disabilities and people had now started migrating from the village.

The minister assured that he would look into both the cases and take necessary action. He further informed that overhead water tanks had been proposed on a population of 10,000 and the government was working on this.

Parliamentary affairs minister Mohd Azam Khan informed the house that a high level meeting of experts had been convened on March 22 to tackle the water problem, particularly in the Bundelkhand region.

He said that the government was mulling a proposal to revive water bodies so that the purity of underground water could be maintained.