The Malwa belt continues to battle with the deadly uranium as the Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre (BARC) has detected uranium in the groundwater at 57 villages of
four blocks -- Dhuri, Malerkotla-1, Malerkotla-2 and Sherpur -- of this
district.
In its report, the BARC has stated the presence of uranium
in water. A total of 189 samples were taken of which the water of 132 villages
was declared safe from uranium.
The World Health Organisation says 30
microgram (one microgram is one-thousandth of a milligram) of uranium per litre
of drinking water is the permissible limit. But in this latest report, the
uranium has been found above the tolerable level in these villages.
Uranium
creates diseases like cancer and genetic problems among humans.
In Dhuri
block, the water at Banganwali, Bararwal, Benra, Bhojowali, Bhuller Heri,
Daulatpur, Dhura, Dohla, Harchandpur, Hasanpur, Kandhargarh, Kanjla, Kanjli,
Kheru, Ladda, Manna, Meerheri, Mimsan, Natt, Palasaur, Punawal and Rajjo Majra
villages has failed the tests.
In Malerkotla-1 and 2 blocks, the water at
Badshahpur, Chanunda, Dolwal, Hathan, Hathoa, Jalalgarh, Khanpur, Narike, Police
quarters, Albelpura, Bhutan, Bir Imamgarh, Burj, Kup Kalan, Madeui, Manki,
Mohali Khurd, Mubarakpur, Nau Dhrani and Qasba Bharal villages was
affected.
The water samples of Malerkotla government college, police
quarters and the court complex, Malerkotla, were also declared affected with
uranium.
In Sherpur block, the water of 12 villages -- Alal, Badhi,
Badshahpur, Dhandiwal, Ghanaur Khurd, Kala Bula, Kaleran, Mahmad Pur, Mulowal,
Punnawal, Rangian and Wajidpur -- also failed the tests.
All 189 samples
were taken from a depth of 400-500 ft.
An official said that after the
report, the administration had recommended the installation of reverse osmosis
systems in these villages. The official said the government had been sounded
about the report and the process of installing ROs had been
started.
Experts claimed that the government should go in for some other
technique to decontaminate the water as the RO system could not neutralise the
effect of uranium and other heavy metals.
