Groundwater polluted in other areas too, says NGO

GHAZIABAD: City-based NGO Paryavaran Vahini has claimed tests commissioned by it in 2011 had established at least three areas - in both the trans- and sis- Hindon parts of the city - that had alarmingly high amounts of carcinogenic hexavalent chromium in the groundwater.
Vijaypal Baghel, convenor of the NGO, claimed these areas include Mukund Nagar, Kadkad Model village and Delta Colony.The last two fall in the trans-Hindon area.
Baghel said, "Our tests show hexavalent chromium in groundwater to be 5.43 mg/ltr in Mukund Nagar, 3.78 mg/ltr in Delta Colony and 9.67 mg/ltr in Kadkad Model village. But steps have only been taken in Lohia Nagar, which haven't been successful."
Ghaziabad UP pollution board chief Paras Nath said, "I know of high chromium content only in Lohia Nagar. In any case, checking groundwater quality is the job of Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN)." He declined to comment on why Central Groundwater Authority's assistance was not sought, when the body had already declared the city a "critical area".
Two of Ghaziabad's most influential residents' bodies have issued advisories to all RWAs to have their groundwater tested for toxins independently, as they say the authorities won't do it. This was after TOI carried a report on the excessive levels of the carcinogen in Lohia Nagar's groundwater.
Retired colonel T P Tyagi, head of the sis-Hindon area's RWA federation, has written to the UP chief minister, "There are about 150 industrial units polluting the city's groundwater with red, yellow and black pollutants. Most of them do not treat their effluents, but pump it straight into the groundwater by reverse-boring."
Alok Kumar, head of the trans-Hindon RWA federation, has also called on RWAs to have their groundwater tested, as much of it is used for drinking. "It is important to know what toxic substances are contained in the water. Only today, my own society has purchased a reverse osmosis filter system for Rs 25 lakh to purify the groundwater."
District magistrate Vimal Kumar Sharma said, "This is a serious matter. Groundwater has to be tested for hexavalent chromium and other pollutants. It is a question of public health. I'll look into this and take required steps."