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1.1 Historically arsenic is known as a poison. It does 2. Extent of problem in West Bengal
not often present in its elemental state but is more
In West Bengal, during 1980s, some cases of arsenical
common in sulfides and sulfosalts such as Arsenopyrite,
dermatosis in the districts of North 24 Parganas, South
Orpiment, Realgar, Lollingite and Tennantite. Due to
24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and Burdwan were
abundance of these arsenic bearing ores and the rarity
reported. By the end of December 2001, this problem
of native arsenic, it is not an important ore itself.
spreads from few villages to 2065 villages of 75 blocks
Arsenic is used in industry as a wood preservatives
in 8 districts. About 10 % of the total population of
and in paints, dyes, metals, soaps, insecticides and
the State is exposed to the above risk. It can be
semi-conductors. Apart from its natural occurrence it
observed from the map below that there is increase
is also released into the environment through burning
in number of incidences with the time.
fossil fuels, paper production, cement manufacturing
and mining activities. The details of the extent of the problem (as on
December 2001)in West Bengal are given below.
1.2 Arsenic (AS) exists in several forms, which vary
in toxicity and occurrence.
The metallic form of arsenic (0 valency) is not
absorbed by the stomach and intestines and does not
exert adverse effects. On the other hand, a volatile
compound such as AsH3 is toxic, but is not present in
water or food. Moreover, the primary organic forms
(arsenobetanine and arsenocholine) found in fish and
shellfish seem to have little or no toxicity.
Arsenobetanine quickly passes out of the body Identified upto
May 1993.
through urine without being metabolized to other Further identified upto
compounds. Arsenite (+3) and arsenate (+5) are the September 1995.
Further identified upto
most prevalent toxic forms of inorganic arsenic that December 1995.
are found in drinking water. Arsenite As(+3) in Further identified upto
December 2000.
reduced state in inorganic is a toxic pollutant in natural
Further identified upto
environment and is more soluble and mobile than the December 2001.
1
General Manager, HO, NABARD
2
Assistant Manager, West Bengal RO, NABARD
T E CHN I CA L DIGEST
ISSUE 9, 2006 For Private circulation only 32
3. Source of arsenic in groundwater sources several times during the epoch valley
alluviation. These changes left irregularities on the
3.1 The source of arsenic in groundwater can be
alluvial plain, which controlled hydrographic pattern
traced out by establishing the relations between the
and created environments in which the sediments
river system (drainage pattern), the area from where
were deposited.
the rivers brought sediments i.s. parent materials. In
this regard Geological Survey of India and Central With the beginning of the Himalayan orogeny crustal
Ground Water Board have done commendable job down wrapping along the northern margin of the
and come out with certain findings. peninsula and south of the newly formed mountain
3.2 The problem of groundwater pollution by arsenic ranges gave rise to a basin in the nature of a foredeep
is found in the interfluvial region of the Bhagirathi- where concomitantly with the formation of the
Hugli and the Jalangi-Ichamati rivers lying mostly in mountain range extensive sedimentation took place.
the eastern part of the Bhagirathi-Hugli river of West By middle Tertiary times the South Bengal basin was
Bengal. The arsenic contamination in ground water mainly getting sediments from Eastern part of the
beyond permissible limit of 0.05mg/l has been found Peninsula comprising the Chotanagpur and the
within the shallow aquifer (20-60m below ground Assam Plateau. In he Tertiary period the sediments
level). Apart from this area, other areas where higher brought down from Chotanagpur plateau including
incidence of Arsenic has been reported are four blocks Rajmahal hill area by Ajoy-Damodar system of rivers
(adjacent to the river Ganga) in Malda district, played the most important role in filling up the
Purbasthali block of Bardhaman district and Balagarh western margin of the Bengal basin. By the end of
block of Hugli district. the Mid-Tertiary period the major uplifts of the
Chotanagpur Plateau were over and the later
3.3 During the phases of deltaic sedimentation in the movements were of much reduced magnitude. As a
southeastern part of West Bengal, rest of the Bengal result, the rate of sedimentation during the Tertiary
shelf was under the influence of fresh water period was considerably reduced. The formation of
sedimentation. The system of rivers responsible for Garo-Rajmahal gap in the Pleistocene completely
this fresh water sedimentation could be the precursor changed the picture of sedimentation in the Bengal
of the Ganga, which might have been flowing into basin. A tremendous rate of growth started in south
the Bengal plains through the Garo-Rajmahal gap. Bengal as a result sediments of northern rivers
A number of rivers like the Damodar, the Rupnarayan getting deposited there.
etc. flowing in the Bengal plains in a southeasterly
direction for a considerable distance turn sharply to The source of sediments deposited within last 2000
the south in the southern part of West Bengal. Thus years could be from northern Himalayan provinces,
the present drainage pattern responsible for sub- metamorphic terrain of the Chotanagpur plateau the
recent to recent sedimentation in West Bengal might meta-sedimentary rocks of Eastern Himalaya. In
have been caused due to 1) a regional southeasterly eastern Himalayan foothills, the existences of
slope of the basin, caused to some extent, by Arsenopyrite Veins were reported at the altitude 1200
movements on the hinge-zone located at the edge of m above mean sea level. The Tista, Torsa and other
the shelf and 2) an increasing rate of southerly tilt of tributaries of the Brahmaputra river have cut across
the West Bengal part of the basin due to relatively the Darjeeling Coalfields and could carry pyrites,
greater rate of subsidence of the southern part of the arsenopyrites etc., from the exposed coal seams
hinge through the Tertiary and recent times. occurring all along the eastern Himalayan foothills.
The basaltic rocks of Rajmahal area lying in the north-
3.4 The river system and its Sedimentation western part of the delta might have also supplied
sedimentary detritus. Again, all the easterly flowing
The affected area is a part of the Ganga Brahmaputra
river cutting across Raniganj and other coalfields
delta having succession of Quaternary sediments of
might also be responsible for bringing arsenic
varying thickness. The deltaic region of Bengal formed
minerals from the mine workings.
the seaward continuation of the Bengal basin, which
is bounded on three sides west, north and northeast The heavy mineral assemblages from sub-surface
by pre-cambrian crystalline rocks and on the eastern sediments of Habra sediments of Habra block, North
side by tertiary hill ranges of the Assam-Burma arc. 24 Paraganas district in light grey micaceous fine to
This erosional history of the rivers and their numerous medium sand are kyanite-garnet-staurolite-biotite-
tributaries undergoing changes in the position of their tourmaline-Chlorite-Hornblende-Epidote and those in
33 9, 2006
The Committee also recommended further studies: 6.3 Progress made so far
- To detect the spread of Arsenic contamination Several methods have been developed to remove
to newer areas arsenic from groundwater by the Public Health and
Engineering Department (PHED), Govt of West Bengal,
- Finding out appropriate Arsenic removal
All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health,
technology
Tropical School of Medicines (S.T. M.), Calcutta and
School of Environmental Studies, Jadhavpur
6.2 Another Committee was constituted in April 1992
University which are indicated as follows.
as a follow up of recommendations of the Steering
Committee with the following terms of reference;
6.3.1 Arsenic Removal Plant (ARP) fitted directly
The recommendations in the report submitted in with Hand Pump
October 1994 are as follows:
This has been developed by PHED, GoWB by using
a) Safe depth of aquifer for tube wells in five arsenic adsorption technique. These ARP are functioning
affected districts (except Malda). under continuous flow system and it is attached with
the hand pump. Field studies conducted in arsenic
b) Treatment for ground water / utilization of surface
affected villages indicated satisfactory performance
source for Malda District.
of these units.
c) Development of domestic filters to be fitted in
About 1000 such units at the end of 31st March 2002
hand pump with safe sludge disposal
had been installed by the PHED and Zilla Parishad,
arrangements.
benefiting around 2,50,000 population in the arsenic
d) Development of large scale Arsenic Removal affected districts viz., Murshidabad (702 units), Nadia
Plants with sludge disposal arrangement. (32 units), North 24 parganas (175 units), South 4
e) Change of cropping pattern requiring less ground parganas (25 units), Malda (62 units) etc.
water for irrigation.
6.3.2 Arsenic Removal Plant for piped water supply
f) Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic studies.
scheme.
g) Study the effect of chronic arsenic toxicity in
There are three such plants constructed by the GoWB
animals. out of the State Funded Action Plan as on 31st March
h) Study the impact of arsenic rich ground water in 2002 at Sujapur, Kaliachak block of Malda district,
food chain. Dhaititha, Basirhat block of North 24 Parganas district
and Gobardanga of North 24 Parganas district
i) Setting up of District and State Level Laboratories.
benefiting around 0.70 lakh population.
j) Research on exact cause of arsenic
At the Sujapur ARP, the content of arsenic and iron
contamination of ground water.
was reduced from 0.2 mg/lit 0.25 mg/lit to 0.02 mg/
k) Monitoring of ground water quality at least four lit 0.03 mg/lit and 1.7 mg/lit - 2 mg/lit to 0.2 mg/lit
times in a year. 0.25 mg/lit respectively after installation of ARP.
l) Provide adequate fund and other supports for
investigation of renal effects.