News: A report by the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) has found excessive nitrates in groundwater in 440 districts (as of 2023).
Key findings of the report
- About 56% of India’s districts suffer from the problem of excessive nitrates in the groundwater.
- The study defines excessive nitrates in groundwater as more than 45mg per litre.
- Out of the 15,239 groundwater samples collected for testing, 19.8% of them had nitrates concentration above the safe level.
- The problem of nitrate concentration is particularly severe in the states of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- A major issue of concern is that states in central and southern India (like Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh) are also showing a notable increase in nitrate contamination.
- The major reason for nitrate contamination is overuse of subsidised synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers.
- The report identifies fluoride and uranium as other major chemicals affecting the health of groundwater.
