Bihar Faces Severe Groundwater Pollution; Over 30,000 Rural Wards Affected

Patna: A recent report has revealed alarming levels of groundwater pollution in Bihar, making water in 30,207 rural wards unfit for consumption. The contamination, which includes arsenic, fluoride, and iron, poses a significant health risk to residents, with experts warning of serious diseases, including cancer.

The findings were presented in the Bihar Assembly as part of the Bihar Economic Survey (2024-25). According to the report, groundwater in 4,709 wards contains arsenic, 3,789 wards have fluoride contamination, and a staggering 21,709 wards are affected by high iron levels. The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) stated that around 26% of the rural wards in 31 out of Bihar’s 38 districts have contamination levels exceeding the permissible limit.

The report identifies the districts of Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Lakhisarai, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Munger, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Banka, Supaul, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria, and Kishanganj as the most affected areas.

Reacting to the report, PHED Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh stated that the Bihar government has launched measures to address the crisis.
“Given the severity of groundwater contamination, the state government has decided to make rural Bihar ‘handpump free’ and provide safe drinking water under the ‘Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal’ scheme,” Singh said.

He added that Bihar is also implementing Multi-Village Schemes (MVS) to improve water quality. Under the ‘Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal’ initiative, safe drinking water is already being supplied to 83.76 lakh rural families, including those in the 30,207 affected wards.

The state is also working on reducing dependence on groundwater. In September 2024, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone of a ₹1,347-crore project to supply treated water from the Son River to Aurangabad, Dehri, and Sasaram. This project, expected to be completed within two years, aims to end reliance on groundwater in these towns.
Additionally, the Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS), launched in 2023, has been providing clean drinking water to residents of Gaya, Rajgir, and Nawada.

Medical experts have raised concerns over the health risks posed by chemical contamination in groundwater.