On July 16, 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) held a hearing in New Delhi regarding the alarming presence of arsenic and fluoride in groundwater across several regions of India.
The NGT bench, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel, sought detailed responses from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and all state governments and union territories. During the proceedings, CGWA&rsquo;s legal representative informed the tribunal that all states and union territories except Daman and Diu have submitted their respective reports.
The tribunal instructed CGWA to compile and present this information in a structured format. The compiled report should include the number of affected districts, villages, and contaminated water sources, along with details of the actions taken by each state to address the issue.
Additionally, CGWA was directed to disclose any consultations, advisories, or orders issued to resolve groundwater contamination by arsenic and fluoride. The authority must also provide data on the availability and operational capacity of water treatment plants specifically designed to remove these contaminants in affected regions.
CGWA has been given six weeks to submit this comprehensive report, while Daman and Diu must file their overdue report within four weeks.
Earlier, on April 26, 2024, the NGT had asked CGWA to reveal the corrective steps taken and their outcomes in areas where groundwater samples were found to exceed permissible limits. The current phase of reporting by states is expected to include specific details on impacted regions and the corrective measures implemented.
This development underlines the seriousness of groundwater pollution in India and the urgent need for coordinated and effective actions to ensure safe drinking water for all.

NGT Seeks CGWA Report on Toxic Groundwater

NGT directs CGWA to submit detailed data on arsenic, fluoride contamination in 6 weeks

NGT Seeks CGWA Report on Toxic Groundwater

NGT directs CGWA to submit detailed data on arsenic, fluoride contamination in 6 weeks

July 20, 2025 | 22:47 IST