29-Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater of North Eastern India

Abstract

Groundwater arsenic contamination and sufferings of people have been reported in 20 countries in different parts of the world. The magnitude is considered highest in five Asian countries and the severity is in order of Bangladesh>India>Mangolia>China>Taiwan. In all these countries, more and more groundwater withdrawal is taking place because of increase in agricultural irrigation. In India after West Bengal and the bordering districts of Bangladesh, arsenic in groundwater was detected in part of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura. Maximum arsenic content was observed in Jorhat (Titabor, Dhakgorah, Selenghat and Moriani Block), Dhemaji (Sissiborgoan and Dhemaji Block), Golaghat district (Podumani Block) and Lakhimpur (Boginodi, Lakhimpur Block) in Assam; West Tripura (Triania Block), Dhalai (Salema Block) and North Tripura (Dharmanagar Block) districts in Tripura, Thuobal (Kakching Block) in Manipur and Dibang valley (Midland) in Arunachal Pradesh. The groundwater of these blocks of five states is affected with arsenic contamination. A long-term environmental planning is essential to blunt the danger from such pollution.