Investigation of Groundwater Contamination Due to Heavy Metals for Sustainable Development of Agriculture in Punjab State, India

Year : 2024 | Volume :11 | Issue : 02 | Page : 20-29
By

Hardev Singh Virk,

  1. Professor of Eminence (Honorary), SGGS World University, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, India

Abstract

Punjab, an intensive agricultural state, is currently experiencing a problem because of elevated levels of heavy metals and uranium (U) in its groundwater. It is commonly known that the groundwater in every district in Punjab’s Malwa region has anomalous levels of uranium, with a U content that exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) safe limit of 30 parts per billion. There have been reports of arsenic (As) in the Majha belt of Punjab that is over the permissible level. These abnormalities are thought to have originated from geogenic origins. The presence of various heavy elements, including iron, nickel, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead, has caused the quality of the groundwater to further decline. According to our research, groundwater uranium concentrations range from 80.6 ppb in the Muktsar district to 366.0 ppb in the Fazilka district. Our study reports on the health hazards associated with uranium and other heavy metals in groundwater. Reductions in uranium and heavy metals have been suggested as mitigating strategies for the State of Punjab’s agriculture. The World Bank-funded initiative “Toward Managing Rural Drinking Water Quality in the State of Punjab, India” has addressed the issue of groundwater contamination. Ion exchange and AMRIT technologies are two of the many steps the Punjab government’s Department of Water Supply and Sanitation has made to provide drinkable water while reducing the levels of iron and arsenic in the Majha belt. In the Malwa belt, RO plants and canal water supply are the potable sources of drinking water. For agricultural practices, the use of canal water is being promoted.

Keywords: Agriculture, groundwater, heavy metals, mitigation, uranium.

[This article belongs to Journal of Water Pollution & Purification Research (jowppr)]

How to cite this article:
Hardev Singh Virk. Investigation of Groundwater Contamination Due to Heavy Metals for Sustainable Development of Agriculture in Punjab State, India. Journal of Water Pollution & Purification Research. 2024; 11(02):20-29.
How to cite this URL:
Hardev Singh Virk. Investigation of Groundwater Contamination Due to Heavy Metals for Sustainable Development of Agriculture in Punjab State, India. Journal of Water Pollution & Purification Research. 2024; 11(02):20-29. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jowppr/article=2024/view=177335

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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 11
Issue 02
Received 10/09/2024
Accepted 13/09/2024
Published 07/10/2024
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