Report by the Central Groundwater Authority in the matter of Suo Moto arsenic found in groundwater in 25 states dated November 18, 2024.

When the matter was listed before the NGT, August 7, 2024, wherein CGWA stated that the reports from seven states/UTs namely Maharashtra, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Tripura, Gujarat, Odisha and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu had not been received.

Presently, report from Nagaland, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Daman and Diu has not been filed before the NGT, till November 11, 2024, the report informed the tribunal.

The present report by CGWA summarizes the reports received from Maharashtra, Odisha and Tripura.

The report filed by the state of Maharashtra stated that no arsenic has been reported in the state. While fluoride has been found in 150 locations (140 locations in rural areas and 10 locations in urban areas). Out of 140 locations in rural areas, no contamination was found in 5 locations during retesting and remaining 135 sources prohibited for drinking purpose. Defluoridation and RO plants have been installed in affected villages.

The state of Odisha in their report said that "the deeper aquifers in the state are free from arsenic contamination". The number of fluoride contamination habitations are 18 as on June 18, 2024. The state has taken necessary measures and abandoned the contaminated water sources and sealed them and habitations have already been covered with community water purification plants as a part of short term measures. Further, these fluoride affected habitations are also covered with piped water supply schemes either by single village schemes or multi village schemes.

The report by Tripura stated that during the last five years (2019-2023), 915 samples were collected from 8 districts of the state and concentration of arsenic and fluoride in all "915 samples found below detectable limits".