Reply on behalf of the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board in compliance of the National Green Tribunal order dated December 22, 2023.

The matter is related to the threat being faced by the  survivors of the Bhopal Gas leak disaster of 1984 who are still bearing the brunt of contaminated groundwater.

42 colonies in the vicinity of Union Carbide premises are supplied with potable water by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation. MPPCB is also involved in monitoring of piped water as per the directions of the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee. Water samples were collected by members of the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee from July 20-22, 2022.  

Details of tap water samples collected from colonies around UCIL premises revealed that the tap water are meeting the "acceptable limits of drinking water standard IS 10500:2012 except for colour and turbidity of some localities". "Parameters such as color, turbidity, TDS, chlorides, alkalinity, hardness, fluoride, calcium and magnesium are exceeding the acceptable limits of drinking water standard IS 10500:2012 in some borewell/ tube well samples".

The Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) has informed MPPCB that the chemical analysis and testing of the water in the area is under process and the report will be soon submitted.