The contamination is not a minor issue; it is a public-health emergency that needs urgent attention.
Punjab’s Drinking Water Alert: Uranium Contamination Hits Record High
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has revealed in a new report that a staggering 62.5% of groundwater samples from Punjab have uranium levels above the safety threshold limit. It is the highest contamination intensity ever recorded in India.
This alarming figure is a concern for millions of rural and semi-rural residents who are dependent on wells, borewells, and hand-pumps for daily drinking water. The contamination is not a minor issue; it is a public-health emergency that needs urgent attention.
CGWB data referenced in a 2025 report to Parliament had shown that around 32.6% of groundwater samples (296 out of 908 tested) exceeded the permissible uranium limit of 0.03 mg/L. The new 62.5% figure suggests the intensity of this issue has grown more widespread or that sampling has become more comprehensive—either way, it signals an alert.
Health experts noted that uranium in drinking water is not just a technical violation. Long-term exposure may cause damage to kidneys, bones and liver and may lead to chronic illnesses affecting entire communities.
Apart from uranium, there are other factors increasing this threat towards public health. Past CGWB tests showed elevated levels of fluoride (in 13.8% of samples), nitrate (12.6%), arsenic (4.8%), and high salinity (in 6.7%).
According to experts, multiple factors are responsible for this contamination: natural geological uranium deposits, combined with over-exploitation of aquifers, excessive groundwater withdrawal for irrigation, and possibly agrochemical leaching from phosphate fertilisers used heavily in Punjab’s farmlands.
The state’s water safety crisis demands immediate relief measures and long-term reforms. Affected areas need safe drinking water through community purification systems or alternate supply sources. It is also crucial to enforce stricter groundwater management, regulate fertiliser use, and deploy regular water-quality testing across all habitations.
For Punjab’s residents, particularly the rural population, these revelations are a grim reminder: access to “clean water” is no longer a minor issue to be taken for granted. Public health authorities, policymakers, and communities must act now to protect millions from invisible yet deadly contamination.
Source: Times of India
