62.50 % of Punjab's groundwater contaminated with uranium, highest across country; Haryana ranks second
PTC News Desk: A staggering 62.50 % of groundwater samples from Punjab are contaminated with uranium levels far beyond safety threshold, followed by Haryana, Delhi, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. This is the highest contamination intensity recorded across the country.
The fact was revealed in the Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025 by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Meanwhile, across the country, nitrate contamination was the most widespread, followed by fluoride and salinity.
The report highlighted uranium concentration exceeding 30ppb sporadically in Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan.
"A total of 3,754 groundwater samples were tested across India during Pre- and Post-Monsoon 2024 to check uranium concentration. Samples with uranium levels above the safe limit of 30 ppb were found in 6.71 per cent during the Pre-Monsoon and 7.91 per cent during the post-monsoon, showing a slight increase after rainfall. The highest uranium contamination was observed in Punjab, where over half of the samples (53.04 per cent pre-monsoon and 62.50 per cent post-monsoon) exceeded the limit,’’ it read.
Haryana also recorded considerate levels with 15 per cent of pre-monsoon and 23.75 per cent of post-monsoon samples above the limit, followed by Delhi, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh.
"High levels were also found in Haryana (15–23.75 per cent), Delhi (13–15.66 per cent), Karnataka (6–8 per cent), and Uttar Pradesh (5–6 per cent). Moderate contamination occurred in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while most other states showed uranium levels within safe limits,’’ it stated.
Meanwhile, fluoride levels exceeding 1.5 mg/L were detected in 11.24 per cent of samples in Punjab, while the national exceedance was at 8.05 per cent.
"High fluoride occurrences are prominently observed in the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and parts of Odhisa. Excessive fluoride in groundwater used for drinking poses a significant health concern, as prolonged consumption can lead to waterborne fluorosis, manifesting in dental and skeletal disorders,’’ it stated.
Arsenic contamination in groundwater has been found in many Indian states such as Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. The problem remains a serious health risk in the Indo-Gangetic plains, especially in West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Assam.
In Punjab, arsenic levels went above the safe limit in 9.1% of samples before the monsoon and 9.5% after the monsoon, making it one of the major affected states, though the situation varies widely from district to district. Overall, 7.01% of the groundwater samples tested were above the safety limit. High salt levels in water are also harming crop production.
The report said that the Central Groundwater Board tested groundwater quality across India in both the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons in 2024, checking around 5,368 monitoring wells. Around 71.67% of the samples met the BIS safety standards, while 28.32% were above the allowed limits for one or more pollutants.
- With inputs from agencies
