Why in News?

The 2024 Annual Groundwater Quality Report by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reveals widespread contamination, impacting 600 million+ Indians, highlighting a serious public health crisis. 

Groundwater Contamination: Causes  

• Industrial Pollution: Unregulated discharge of toxic chemicals and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury) in areas like Kanpur and Vapi creating “death zones”.  
• Excessive Fertilizer Use: Nitrogen-rich fertilizers → nitrate pollution, Phosphate fertilizers → uranium contamination. 
• Improper Sanitation: Leakage from septic tanks and sewage systems. 
• Natural Contamination: Fluoride, arsenic, and uranium in regions like Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal. 
• Regulatory Gaps: Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, largely overlooks groundwater. CGWB lacks statutory authority, and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) are resource-and-tech-constrained.  

Addressing the Groundwater Crisis  

• Establish a National Groundwater Pollution Control Framework (NGPCF) to define roles and empower CGWB. 
• Upgrade ground water monitoring with real-time sensors, remote sensing, National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme, and open data platforms 
• Expand community water purification plants (arsenic and fluoride removal plants) under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). 
• Promote organic farming through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and reduce chemical fertilizer overuse. 
• Community-centric governance including local bodies, water user groups, and schools. Along these lines, Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) is a step in the right direction.