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Fluoride level too high in 18 Gujarat districts’ ground water

Data available from ministry of water resources shows fluoride content is above permissible limit.

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Nearly 70% of the districts in the state have fluoride contents beyond the permissible limit in ground water. Data available from the ministry of water resources, concerning ground water quality scenario, reveals that 18 of Gujarat's 26 districts have fluoride content above the permissible limit. Gujarat ranks 5th among the 19 states in high fluoride content in ground water. If that isn't enough, the nitrate content in ground water is also quite high in various districts of the state.

The districts that have such excessive fluoride content include Ahmedabad, Amreli, Anand, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dahod, Junagadh, Kutch, Mehsana, Narmada, Panchmahals, Patan, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surat, Surendranagar and Vadodara.

Those with excess nitrate include Ahmedabad, Anand, Banaskantha, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Mehsanan, Narmada, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surendranagar and Vadodara.

Data about high nitrate content was derived from samples collected and analysed by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme.

It should be noted that the permissible limit of fluoride and nitrate in ground water is 1.5 mg per litre.

Anything in excess of the permissible limit poses several health problems. The fluoride content in ground water in these districts was analysed on basis of water samples collected from groundwater observation wells of the ministry.

Pankaj Dave, who works with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in Saurashtra region, said that high fluoride content is a natural phenomenon. "Industrial pollution and other such things have rarely anything to do with it. The regions where the support programme functions, hardly has a concentration of industries," said Dave.

He stated that high fluoride content often results in weak bones and joint pain. "In certain areas of Amreli district the problem is more severe," said Dave. According to him the best solution is to make use of surface water and also recharge the ground water level.

"Rain water conservation for drinking purpose can also help," said Dave.  He said through the programme, they have helped build lakes in Surendranagar district to address this issue.

As for nitrate content, data collected as part of the Centre for Development Alternatives showed that several districts of the state had high nitrate content in ground water. Of the samples tested in Ahmedabad, 43% had nitrate content above the permissible limit.

More than 70% of samples collected from ground water in Gandhinagar, Anand, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Sabarkantha also had nitrate contents above the permissible limit.

Those working in the field attributed the high nitrate content to industrial pollution. "Industrial waste, particularly from fertiliser and urea manufacturers, finds its way to water sources and even ground water leading to contamination of the water. Excessive use of fertiliser in farms also leads to such a situation," said an analyst on condition of anonymity.

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