No cancerous substance in underground water in Gr Noida: UPPCB

Test samples from underground water in Greater Noida have been found devoid of carcinogenic substances, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) today informed the National Green Tribunal.
The submission was made in an affidavit filed by UPPCB before a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.
"In the month of August, samples from hand pumps from six locations were collected from villages on GT Road and analysis report of the samples reveals higher values of total hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS) and alkalinity but metals like chromium hexavalent and lead which have carcinogenic characteristics have not been found.
"The presence of higher values of total hardness, TDS and alkalinity may be attributed to natural presence and excessive withdrawal of groundwater in these villages," the UPPCB said.

The tribunal had earlier issued the notice to the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh government, the Centre Pollution Control Board (CPCB), UPPCB and others while directing them to file a status report on the issue of contamination of water and spurt in cancer in the area.
The affidavit said that samples from borewells at two locations -- Bheel and Akbarpur in Greater Noida-- were collected in November and the same were analyzed which reveal higher values of total hardness, calcium and magnesium.
"On the tribunal's direction, samples from hand pumps were collected from villages on GT Road and 2 bore wells from the industries in Greater Noida region were taken and sent to Central Laboratory of UPPCB and no metal carcinogenic characteristic has been found," the affidavit said.

It said that the samples have also been sent to Indian Institute of Toxicology and Research, Lucknow, a reputed CSIR lab to find out presence of pesticide in the groundwater. However, the report is awaited.