DERGAON, March 11 � Traces of arsenic have been detected in drinking water in Golaghat district, and about 3 lakh people are taking such contaminated water through government supply or from their own source. According to (PHE) sources, arsenic is found in the range 0.06 to 0.99 mg per litre whereas the permissible limit is 0.05 mg per litre. As a result the people of the district are suffering from diseases on a large scale.
As per the latest data the areas under Golaghat East Development Block, Padumoni are the worst affected. In areas under the block namely Ahom Gaon, Aath Gaon, Baghabarahi, Da-barahi, Gual Gaon, Sarukacahari Gaon etc. arsenic is found in the range of 0.06 to 0.95 mg per litre. Similarly in areas like Barisua, Bebegia, Bosa Gaon, Barkachari Gaon, Gualjan, Makrang, Naoboisha, Rupkalia Sakial Gaon etc. (Athkhelia GP) the water is contaminated with arsenic between the range of 0.16 to 0.29 mg per litre. The water of the areas under Balijan GP Balijan, Chaudang, Daiyang, Fesual, Jamuguri TE etc. are laced with arsenic with 0.06 to 0.99 mg per litre. Among them the highest arsenic (0.99 mg per litre) is found in Singa Bhata Chuk of Fesual Gaon. Similarly, arsenic is found in the water of the areas Amolapatty, Bengenakhua, Natun Amollapatty, Kathkatia, Naragaon (Bengenakhua GP) in the range of 0.28 to 0.06 mg per litre, Sukardhara, Fesual, Furkating Tirual (Furkating GP) in the range 0.07 to 0.27mg per litre, Baruagaon, Chakardhara, Ghiladhari, Habisua, Jerpai, Mahimelia, Naujan Gaon (Ghiladhari GP) in the range 0.09 to 0.22 mg per litre, Bangaon, Barphukankhat, Chinatali, Tarfat (Golagaht GP) in the range of 0.06 to 0.19 mg per litre, Chengajan, Chipahibari, Jamuguri No. 2, Naharjan gaon (Jamuguri GP) in the range 0.06 to 0.12 mg per litre, Bakalai, Kapahuating, Kamargaon, Mautgaon, Na-pamua gaon (Kaliapani GP) in the range 0.06 to 0.26 mg per litre, Bakalial, Gohaingaon, Kacharihat, Kharjan, Raidingia (Kamarbandha GP) in the range 0.07 to 0.22 mg per litre, Barjan No, 1, Barjan No. 2, Khristanpather, Hatigaon, Matikhola, Lakhibari TE , Purani Matikhola ( Matikhola GP) in the range 0.07 to 0.22 mg per litre, Khutakata, Lungpuria, Makrang TE, Nagaon, kacharigaon No. 2, Chingfura, Socialist Pathaer (Makrang GP) in the range 0.06 to 0.29 mg per litre, Da-samua , Garigaon Kacharigaon No. 1, Oating , Rupkaliagaon (Oating GP) in the range 0.06 to 0.29 mg per litre, and Bhagagaon, Golampatty, Kabarugaon (Pulibar GP) in the range 0.14 to 0.29 mg per litre.
Similarly in the GPs, Badulipara, Dusutimukh, Kuruabahi, Mohmaiki, Maradhansiri, Pub Kaziranga under Golaghat West Development Block, arsenic in the range of 0.06 to 0.75 mg per litre have been found. The areas under Kakodonga Development Block, in which arsenic is found are Sabukdhara, Kukurapahia Gaon, Pahu Sua Gaon, Upar Khatual Gaon (Dakhin Pub Kakodonga GP) in the range 0.06 to 0.29 mg per litre, Athgharia Gaon, Lukhurakhania Gaon, Majukuchi (Uttar Pachim GP) in the range 0.06 to 0.14 mg per litre. The areas under Gamariguri Development Block where arsenic is found are Adarsha Gaon No.1 and 2, Bijoypur Baghedhara gaon, Kalanggaon, Kalabari Medakgaon, Soanitpurgaon (Gamariguri GP), Merachuk, Chaudang Pathar, Rupkalia (Chaudang Pathar GP) , Chalang Pathar , Sapekhati, Subangaon (Daiyang GP), Biyakarua, Charaimari, Kachamari (Kachamari GP), Amguri Lakhijuri, narayanpur, Ratanpur, Kachugaon, Samuk Gaon (Ratnpur GP), Bijaypur, hirimbapur, Milanpur Dighali Pani (Srimanta Gaon GP), Dayalpur, Ratanpur, Telisaal (Sishupani GP), Maajgaon, Upartarani Gaon (Tarani GP) in the range 0.06 to 0.28 mg per litre. It it pertinent to mention that more than three lakh people out of ten lakh of the district are taking the contaminated water as drinking water, but the PHE Deptt. has failed to combat this contamination and is continuing their supply to the people.
The Greater Dergaon Consumer Awareness and Protection Forum has demanded immediate step to minimise the amount of arsenic in the drinking water as soon as possible.
