marine
Mann
BATHINDA – Low to very high traces of uranium were detected in water samples taken from tubewells in 43 villages in Bhagta Bhai Ke, Mour, Nathana, Phul and Rampura blocks of the district. The samples, taken by a government lab, were analysed by the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai. High cases of cancer have already been reported from these villages. Dullewala village in Phul block has the highest concentration of uranium with 295.8 parts particle per billion of water (ppb) found from a 500-ft deep tubewell. The Indian health standards state uranium traces up to 60 ppb are permissible while the World Health Organisation (WHO) puts the permissible limit at 15 ppb. Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had recently stated in Mohali that groundwater contamination in Punjab was 50 per cent more than the WHO standards. The BARC report, however, reveals that the contamination is many times more than that.
The report has put 13 villages in the high-risk category. These are Dullewalla (295.8 ppb), Patti Karam Chand (164 ppb), Giddar (140 .5 ppb), Bhai Rupa (116 ppb), Sema (101 ppb), Kalyan Sukha (94.1 ppb), Bhai Rupa (88.6 ppb), Dhapali (87 ppb), Dhinger (77.8 ppb), Bhaini (66 ppb), Ghurelli (66 ppb), Pitho (65 ppb), Sandhu Khurd (62.9 ppb) and Salabatpura (61 ppb). Though the state government has installed reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plants at several places, not all are benefitted.
The report has put 13 villages in the high-risk category. These are Dullewalla (295.8 ppb), Patti Karam Chand (164 ppb), Giddar (140 .5 ppb), Bhai Rupa (116 ppb), Sema (101 ppb), Kalyan Sukha (94.1 ppb), Bhai Rupa (88.6 ppb), Dhapali (87 ppb), Dhinger (77.8 ppb), Bhaini (66 ppb), Ghurelli (66 ppb), Pitho (65 ppb), Sandhu Khurd (62.9 ppb) and Salabatpura (61 ppb). Though the state government has installed reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plants at several places, not all are benefitted.
