India: Water of life or water of death?

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India: Water of life or water of death?

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Water of life or water of death?

Zee News - April 13, 2006

Take this: Every third person deprived of clean water in the world is an Indian. About 86 per cent of total diseases in the country are directly or indirectly related to poor quality of drinking water. Figures revealed by Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) state that a shocking 70 per cent of India's water is polluted.

Lakhs of people in West Bengal are suffering from arsenic contamination in ground water. As many as 13 states are identified as endemic to fluorosis due to abundance of fluoride bearing minerals in water.

Dangerously high levels of mercury have been found at certain places in Haryana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. Not only this, excessive iron elements have been found in a river in Madhya Pradesh. Owing to its red colour it is known as ‘khooni nadi’.

Naturally occurring contaminants are also found in drinking water. The radioactive gas Radon-222 occurs in certain types of rocks and can get into ground water. Toxic effluents from industries are also causing a hike in cardio vascular diseases, hypertension and cancer.

Findings of the CUTS report has not only alarmed health officials but has also questioned an Indians very basic right to a healthy environment and safety.

Coming strongly to the forefront to support the cause of clean drinking water, consumer activist Ramaben R Mavani of Raikot says in the report,” it is a pity that even after 56 years of independence, India does not have legal standards that could help to clearly define ‘clean’ and ‘potable’ water.”

"Standards should be stipulated and enforced strictly through the statutory body," she says.

Quality of water in India, the emerging superpower ranks 120 among 122 countries worldwide. United Nations also categorises India among countries with poor quality of water.

Calling for introduction of clear guidelines and norms to tackle the problem, noted consumer activist P Rama Rao of Visakha Consumers' Council, Visakhapatnam says "the government should take stringent action against industries, which are responsible for causing pollution."

The report states that in most cases it is bacteria causing impurity. Usually the Coliform group of bacteria is being used to evaluate the sanitary quality of drinking water.

Of late, the government of India has started working towards improving the alarming water situation in India. It is now citing the initiatives to fix quality norms for potable water.

"There is an urgent need for partnership among the governments, civil society and the private sector which will achieve the ultimate goal of 'clean and safe water for all' in India,” it says.

Bureau Report

SOURCE:
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.a ... 76&sid=ZNS
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