The major rivers of Arunachal Pradesh are free from pollution and the ground water is of excellent quality with all the parameters within permissible limits, according to an investigation carried out by the Central Ground Water Board and Central Water Commission.
This was stated by K Ramanand, a scientist in Central Ground Water Board, North Eastern Region, Guwahati during a function here yesterday.
"This situation, however, may change in the near future with rapid urbanisation and increase in population," he said, adding the iron content in Doimukh area of Papum Pare district was beyond the permissible limits of 0.3mg/litre.
Local sand filters and iron filtration plants were being used for supply of iron-free water, he said and called for greater public cooperation to keep ground water and rivers free from pollution.
Explaining the causes of groundwater and river pollution in the country, he said that urbanization had been the main cause of water pollution as sewerage system of the country was not satisfactory.
As per CPCB report, only about 40-50 per cent of the population of the major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore were served by sewer systems.
R K Kalita, Scientist, CGWB said that there was no major water quality issue in the state except localized occurrence of iron.
However, rivers like Pachin flowing through densely populated areas had become a waste disposal site and it needed to be tackled.
Local MLA Techi Kaso emphasized that private drillers should submit drilling information either to the Central Ground Water Board or the Water Resources Department, which would help the departments to effectively monitor the ground water scenario of the area.
He also emphasized the need to use galvanized steel pipes in drinking water tubewells.
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CPCB has also attributed the sharp increase in pollution levels this year to "unfavourable meteorological conditions" which witnessed a drop in wind speed (1.3m/s on Diwali this year) as well as mixing height -- height of vertical mixing of air and suspended particles above the ground -- leading to higher concentration of pollutants.
Various other pollutants like SO2, NO2 and CO too have recorded an increase this year.
According to a press statement issued by CSE, "The maximum levels of PM 2.5, and all gases - nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide - are higher than last year."
It adds, "CO levels, that otherwise are declining in Delhi increased during this year compared to last year. This year CO has ranged between 2000 microgramme per cum to 4200 microgramme per cum as opposed to 1100 microgramme per cum to 4000 microgramme per cum last year. High level of CO can curdle blood and lead to instant deaths.
